University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


Gift  of 


ROBERT  EASTON 


Max  Brandt 
Masterpiece 


Eden 


This  Superb  110-pieee  Set.  with  ini- 
tial in  2  places  in  wreath  with  6-color 
decorations  on  every  piece  and  Bold 
covered  handles,  consists  ot: 
12  Dinner  Plates.  9  inches 
It'  Breakfast  Plates,  7  inches 
VI  Cups 
12  Saucers 


12  Soap  Plates.  7X  inches 
12  Cereal  Dishes.  6  inches 
12  Fruit  Dishes,  6X  inches 
12  Individual  Bread  and 

Batter  Plates,  6X  ioefaes 
1  Platter,  1SK  inches 


1  Platter,  11 X  Inches 
1  Celery  Dish,  8 X  inches 
1  Sauce  Boat  Tray,  7X  inches 
I  Batter  Plate,  6  inches 
1  Vegetable  Dish.  10M  inches. 
with  lid  (2  pieces) 


Important! 

Hartman  guarantees  that 
every  piece  in  this  set  ia 
absolutely  first  quality- 
no  seconds.  This  is  a 
standard  or  "open"  pat- 
tern Replacement  pieces 
may  be  had  of  us  for  three 
years.  Each  piece  wrapped 
in  tissue  paper.  Excellent 
packing  to  pi  event  break- 
age. Shipped  without 
delay. 


Order  No.  324DMA13.  Bargain  price.  $32.15.  Pay  $1  now,  $3  monthly. 

"0.* 

D.pt,    4133    Copyright.  192Z,  by  Hwtman'a.Chic.iro  ChlC»BO,lll. 


H  ARTM  AN 


Brings  110-PieceGold  Decorated 
Martha  Washington  Dinner  Set 

Send  only  $1  and  we  ship  the  full  Bet— HO  pieces.    Use  it  30  days.  Then  if 
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charges  both  ways.    If  you  keep  them,  take  nearly  m  year  to  pay  on 
easy  terms. 

Your  Initial  in  2  Places  on 

EveryPiece-5-ColorFloral 

Decorations  and  Gold 

Wonderful  artistic  effect  is  given  by 
the  wreath  and  rich  design  surround- 
ing the  initial.  Your  initial  appears 
in  2  places  on  every  piece. 

All  Handles  Covered  with  field 

Every  handle  is  covered  with  poli  shed 
gold.  Shipping  weight  about  90  Ibs, 


1  Deep  Bowl,  8V  inches 

lOval  Baker,  9  inches 

1  Small  Deep  Bowl,  6  inches 

1  Gravy  Boat,  7.H  inches 

1  Creamer 

1  SuRar  Bowl  with  cover(2  pieces) 

,368-Page  Book 

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portation charges  both  ways.    If  I  keep  it  I  will 
pay  $3.00per  month  until  ful'  price,  B2.8B.1S  paid, 
kitchen    ware,    gas/  fit|eremaiDg  wjtb  you  until  final  payment  is  made. 


in    furniture,   rugs, 
stoves,   silverware,   / 
washing     machines.   / , 
kitchen    ware,    gas  • 
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separators,  etc.   ' 
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"LetHartman/  ' 
'i 


7 


Street  Address. 


Feather    /«•**, state. 


YoUf 


State  your 
Occupation 


Color. 


(Any  One  Letter). 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY— ADVERTISING  SECTION. 


This  Letter  Saved  Me  Half 

on  a  New  Typewriter 


Chicago,  Nov.  2,  1921. 
Dear  Henry: 

I  hear  that  you  are  down  in  New  York  to 
open  a  branch  office  for  your  firm.  You'll  be 
buying  a  lot  of  things  for  the  office,  not  the 
least  important  of  which  will  be  typewriters. 

And  that's  what  I  want  to  talk  to  you  about 
—typewriters.  I  want  to  give  you  the  benefit 
of  an  experience  I  had  some  time  ago, 
and  thereby,  I  hope,  save  you  some  real 
money. 

About  a  year  ago  I  decided  to  buy  a 
typewriter     for     home     use.      My     first 
thought    was    to    purchase    one    of    the 
makes  we  were  using  in  the  office,  which 
had  been  put  in  before  I  became  buyer 
for  the  house.    But  when  it  came 
to  digging  up  a  hundred  dollars 
for  the  machine — I  just  couldn't. 
Somehow  or  other  it  looked  like 
too  much  money  to  me. 

Then  I  thought  about  picking 
up  a  second-hand  machine,  but 
the  price  was  about  as  high,  and 
I  had  no  assurance  of  service. 

I  was  undecided  as  to  what  to 
do,  when  one  evening  at  home  I 
ran  across  an  Oliver  Typewriter 
ad  in  a  magazine.     I  remembered  then 
having  read  the  advertising  before  and 
being  impressed  with  the  story. 

'Why  pay  $100  for  Any  Typewriter"— 
"When  You  Can  Buy  a  New  Oliver  for 
$49.50?"  read  the  ad — then  it  went  on  to  explain 
how  The  Oliver  Typewriter  Company  had  cut 
the  price  by  selling  direct  and  eliminating  costly 
selling  methods.  It  was  clear  to  me  as  an  ex- 
perienced buyer  how  they  could  well  afford  to 
lop  off  $50.50  of  the  $100  by  their  new  eco- 
nomical selling  plan. 

The  ad  brought  out  the  fact,  too,  that  I  could 
pay  $49.50  cash,  or  $55  in  easy  installments — 
$3  after  trial  and  then  $4  per  month. 

But  the  thing  that  decided  me  was  their  free 
trial  offer.  Without  my  sending  or  depositing 
a  penny,  they  would  ship'me  an  Oliver  for  five 
days  free  trial.  I  could  use  the  typewriter  for 
five  days  just  as  if  it  were  my  own,  and  if  I 
wasn't  satisfied,  all  I  had  to  do  was  to  ship  it 
back  at  the  Oliver  Company's  expense.  Well, 
I  mailed  in  the  coupon  and  got  an  Oliver  for 
free  trial.  To  make  a  short  story  shorter.  I 
was  more  than  pleased  with  the  Oliver.  I  fully 
agreed  with  The  Oliver  Typewriter  Company 
that  if  any  typewriter  was  worth  $100  it  was 
this  splendid  Oliver. 


FREE 
TRIAL 


Well,  later  when  we  found  it  necessary  to  re- 
place some  of  the  typewriters  at  the  office,  you 
may  be  sure  I  put  in.  Olivers,  saving  the  com- 
pany a  nice  $50.50  on  each.  At  first  the  girls 
were  reluctant  about  changing  machines,  but 
after  a  week  or  two  with  the  Oliver,  they 
wouldn't  have  any  other. 

Naturally  now  we  are  all  Oliver  enthusiasts 
— that's  why  I  write  this  letter  to  you. 
You  just  give  the  Oliver  a  trial  and 
you'll  be  more  than  willing  to  buy  me  a 
good  dinner  when  I  arrive  in  New  York 
next  month.  Yours,  J.  B. 


That  is  the  letter  that  saved  me  $50.50 
on  each  of  my  typewriters.  I  not  only 
equipped  the  office  with  the  Oli- 
ver, but,  like  my  friend,  I  also 
bought  one  for  home  use.  Yes, 
I  am  more  than  willing  to  buy 
my  friend  a  good  dinner  for  his 
valuable  advice. 


Now 

$49.50 


Any  reader  may  order  an  Oli- 
ver direct  from  this  ad  by  mail- 
ing the  coupon.  No  money  in 
advance.  No  deposit.  No  obli- 
gation to  buy.  Return  or  keep 
the  Oliver  as  you  decide  after  five  days 
free  trial.  If  you  decide  to  keep  the 
typewriter,  you  can  pay  cash  or  you 
may  take  over  a  year  to  pay  at  the  easy 
rate  of  $4  a  month.  Mail  the  coupon 
today— NOW. 

Canadian  Price,  $79 


ave 


Typewriter 

374  Oliver  Typewriter  Bldg. 
Chicago,  III. 


$50^° 


r-     mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmif 
THE   OLIVER   TYPEWRITER  COMPANY, 

374  Oliver  Typewriter  Bldgr.,  Chicago.  111. 

DShip  me  a  new  Oliver  No.  9  Typewriter  for  five 
days'    free   inspection.     If    I    keep   it    I    will    pav 
$55   as   follows:    $3   at   the   end   of  trial   period   and 
then  at  the  rate  of   $4   per  month.    The   title  to  re- 
main  in    you   until   fully    paid   for.     If   I   make    cash 
settlement   at   end   of   trial    period   I   am   to   deduct 
ten  per  cent  and  remit  to  you  $49.50. 
If  I   decide   not   to  keep   it.    I   will   ship   it  back  at 
your  expense  at  the  end  of  five  days. 
My   shipping   point   is 

DDo   not   send   a   machine   until    I    order   it.     Mali 
me   your  book — "The   High  Cost  of  Typewriters 
— The  Reason  and  the  Remedy,"  your  de  luxe  cata- 
log and  further  information. 


A  Finer  Typewriter  at  a  Fair  Price 
Over  900,000  Sold 


Name 

Street    Address 

City State.. 

Occupation  or  Business 


In  answering  this  advertisement  it   it  desirable  that  you  mention 


ARGO  SY- ALLSTORY 

E    .E     K.     L    "Y 


VOL.  CXLH  CONTENTS    FOR    APRIL   15,    1922  NUMBER  1 


The  entire  contents  of  this  magazine  are  protected  by  copyright,  and  must  not  be  reprinted  without  the  publishers'  permission. 


FIVE   CONTINUED   STORIES 

The  Garden  of  Eden Max  Brand 1 

A  Six-Part  Story  —  Part  One  ^ 

The  Lady  in  Blue {  Augusta  Groner  and  I          .       34 

A  Five-Part  Story  -  Part  Two  I  GraCC   Isabel  Colbron  I 

The  Tiger  Trail Edison  Marshall     ....       61 

A  Four-Part  Story  —  Part  Three 

South  of  Fifty-Three Jack  Bechdolt 98 

A  Six-Part  Story  —  Part  Four 

The  Flying  Fool Rex  Parson 1 22 

A  Five-Part  Story  —  Part  Five 

ONE    NOVELETTE 

The  Gilded  Caravan      .......     Robert  Terry  Shannon    .     .       77 

FIVE    SHORT    STORIES 

The  Gloom  on  Second  Base  ....  Charles  Divine 26 

Thirty  Cents  More Emily  Callaway     ....  52 

The  Contract  with  Conceptione     .     .     .  Howard   Rockey    .     .     .     .  114 

A  Hundred  Thousand  in  Gold    .     .     .  Lyon  Mearson 144 

Common  Folks Gordon  Stiles 152 

JIMMY  MILLION  was  a  bug-hunter  from  Arkansas,  seeking  the  destructive  cotton  boll  weevil  in 
Algiers,  when  he  audaciously  looked  upon  the  unveiled  face  of  a  Moorish  girl.    That  isn't  done  over 
there,  and  from  that  moment  the  hero  of 

EAST     IS     EAST 

BY   T.   S.   STRIBLING 

which  starts  Next  Week,  had  very  little  time  for  his  beloved  bugs.  Romance  called  and  Adventure 
beckoned,  dragging  Jimmy  over  the  Sahara  in  pursuit  of  a  girl  who  always  did  the  unexpected.  Don't 
miss  this  charming  romance. 


THE  FRANK  A.  MUNSEY  COMPANY,  280  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK,  and  TEMPLE  HOUSE,  TEMPLE  AVENUE,  E.  C.,  LONDON 

FRANK  A.  MONSKY,  President  RICHABD  H.  TUBEBIKQTON,  Secretary  CHSISTOPHKB  H.  POPE.  Treasurer 

Single  copies,  1O  cents.    By  the  year,  S4.OO  In  United  States.  Its  dependencies,  Mexico  and  Cuba  ;  $6.00  to  Canada,  and  $7.OO  to  Foreign 
Countries.  Remittances  should  be  made  by  cheek,  express  money  order  or  postal  money  order.  Currency  should  not  be  sent  unless  registered 

PUBLISHED   WEEKLY  BY   THE  FRANK  A.  MUNSEY  COMPANY.    COPYRIGHT,  1922 
Entered  as  second  class  matter  July  15,  1920,  at  the  Post-Office  at  New  York,  under  the  Act  of  March  8,  1879 


COPTBI3HTSD  IN   GREAT  BRITAIN 


ARGOSY- ALLSTORY 


VOL.  CXLII 


SATURDAY,   APRIL    15,    1022 


NUMBER  J 


P^rtl 


d 


ran 

Author  of  "The  Untamed,"  "Tnilin',"  "The  Seventh  Man,"  "Black  Jack,"  etc. 


CHAPTER  I, 

LUKIN  WILL  NOT  BEND  THE  KNEE. 

BY  careful  tailoring  the  broad  shoul- 
ders of  Ben  Connor  were  made  to 
appear  fashionably  slender,  and  he 
disguised  the  depth  of  his  chest  by  a  stoop 
whose  model  slouched  along  Broadway 
:newhere  between  sunset  and  dawn.  He 
wore,  moreover,  the  first  or  second  pair  of 
spats  that  had  ever  stepped  off  the  train  at 
Lukin  Junction,  a  glowing  Scotch  tweed, 
and  a  Panama  hat  of  the  color  and  weave 
of  fine  old  linen.  There  was  a  skeleton  at 
this  Feast  of  Fashion,  however,  for  only 
ht  gloves  could  make  the  stubby  fingers 
and  broad  palms  of  Connor  presentable. 
At  ninety-five  in  the  shade  gloves  were  out 
of  the  question,  so  he  held  a  pair  of  yellow 
chamois  in  one  hand  and  in  the  other  an 
amber-headed  cane.  This  was  the  end  of 
the  little  spur-line,  and  while  the  train 
backed  off  down  the  track,  staggering 
across  the  switch,  Ben  Connor  looked  after 
-it.  leaning  upon  his  cane  just  forcibly 

1  A 


enough  to  feel  the  flection  of  the  wood. 
This  was  one  of  his  attitudes  of  elegance, 
and  when  the  train  was  out  of  sight,  and 
only  the  puffs  of  white  vapor  rolled  around 
the  shoulder  of  the  hill,  he  turned  to  look 
the  town  over,  having  already  given  Lukin 
Junction  ample  time  to  look  over  Ben  Con- 
nor. 

The  little  crowd  was  not  through  with 
its  survey,  but  the  eye  of  the  imposing 
stranger  abashed  it.  He  had  one  of  those 
long  somber  faces  which  Scotchmen  call 
"  dour."  The  complexion  was  sallow, 
heavy  pouches  of  sleeplessness  lay  beneath 
his  eyes,  and  there  were  ridges  beside  the 
corners  of  his  mouth  which  came  from  an 
habitual  compression  of  the  lips.  Looked 
at  in  profile  he  seemed  to  be  smiling  broad- 
ly so  that  the  gravity  of  the  full  face  was 
always  surprising.  It  was  this  that  made 
the  townsfolk  look  down.  After  a  moment, 
they  glanced  back  at  him  hastily.  Some- 
where about  the  corners  of  his  lips  or  his 
eyes  there  was  a  glint  of  interest,  a  touch 
of  amusement — they  could  not  tell  which, 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


but  from  that  moment  they  were  willing  to 
forget  the  clothes  and  look  at  the  man. 

While  Ben  Connor  was  still  enjoying  the 
situation,  a  rotund  fellow  bore  down  on  him. 

"  You're  Mr.  Connor,  ain't  you?  You 
wired  for  a  room  in  the  hotel?  Come  on, 
then.  My  rig  is  over  here.  These  your 
grips?'* 

He  picked  up  the  suit  case  and  the  soft 
leather  traveling  bag,  and  led  the  way  to  a 
buckboard  at  which  stood  two  downheaded 
ponies. 

"•  Can't  we  walk?"  suggested  Ben  Con- 
nor, looking  up  and  down  the  street  at  the 
dozen  sprawling  frame  houses;  but  the  fat 
man  stared  at  him  with  calm  pity.  He  was 
so  fat  and  so  good-natured  that  even  Ben 
Connor  did  not  impress  him  greatly. 

"  Maybe  you  think  this  is  Lukin?"  he 
asked. 

When  the  other  raised  his  heavy  black 
eyebrows  he  explained:  "  This  ain't  noth- 
ing but  Lukin  Junction.  Lukin  is  clear 
round  the  hill.  Climb  in,  Mr.  Connor." 

Connor  laid  one  hand  on  the  back  of  the 
seat,  and  with  surge  of  his  strong  shoulders 
leaped  easily  into  his  place;  the  fat  man 
noted  this  with  a  roll  of  his  little  eyes,  and 
then  took  his  own  place,  the  old  wagon 
careening  toward  him  as  he  mounted  the 
step.  He  sat  with  his  right  foot  dangling 
over  the  side  of  the  buckboard,  and  a 
plump  shoulder  turned  fairly  upon  his  pas- 
senger so  that  w?hen  he  spoke  he  had  to 
throw  his  head  and  jerk  out  the  words;  but 
this  was  apparently  his  time-honored  posi- 
tion in  the  wagon,  and  he  did  not  care  to 
vary  it  for  the  sake  of  conversation.  A 
flap  of  the  loose  reins  set  the  horses  jog- 
trotting  out  of  Lukin  Junction  down  a 
gulch  which  aimed  at  the  side  of  an  enor- 
mous mountain,  naked,  with  no  sign  of  a 
village  or  even  a  single  shack  among  its 
rocks.  Other  peaks  crowded  close  on  the 
right  and  left,  with  a  loftier  range  behind, 
running  up  to  scattered  summits  white 
with  snowr  and  blue  with  distance.  The 
shadows  of  the  late  afternoon  were  thick  as 
fog  in  the  gulch,  and  all  the  lower  moun- 
tains were  already  dim  so  that  the  snow- 
peaks  in  the  distance  seemed  as  detached, 
and  high  as  clouds.  Ben  Connor  sat  with 
his  cane  between  his  knees  and  his  hands 


draped  over  its  amber  head  and  watched 
those  shining  places  until  the  fat  man 
heaved  his  head  over  his  shoulder. 

"  Most  like  somebody  told  you  about 
Townsend 's  Hotel?" 

His  passenger  moved  his  attention  from 
the  mountain  to  his  companion.  He  wras 
so  leisurely  about  it  that  it  seemed  he  had 
not  heard. 

"Ye?,"  he  said,  "I  was  told  of  the 
place." 

"  Who?"  said  the  other  expectantly. 

u  A  friend  of  mine." 

The  fat  man  grunted  and  worked  his 
head  around  so  far  that  a  great  wrinkle 
rolled  up  his  neck  close  to  his  ear.  He 
looked  into  the  eye  of  the  stranger. 

"  Me  being  Jack  Townsend,  I'm  sort  of 
interested  to  know  things  like  that;  the 
ones  that  like  my  place  and  them  that 
don't." 

Connor  nodded,  but  since  he  showed  no 
inclination  to  name  his  friend,  Jack  Towns- 
end  swung  on  a  new  tack  to  come  to  the 
windward  of  this  uncommunicative  guest. 
Lukin  was  a  fairly  inquisitive  town,  and 
the  hotel  proprietor  usually  contributed  his 
due  portion  and  more  to  the  gossips. 

"  Some  comes  for  one  reason  and  some 
for  another,"  went  on  Townsend,  "  which 
generally  it's  to  hunt  and  fish.  That  ain't 
funny  come  to  think  of  it,  because  outside 
of  liars  nobody  ever  hooked  finer  trout 
than  wrhat  comes  out  of  the  Big  Sandy. 
Some  of  'em  comes  for  the  mining — they 
was  a  strike  over  to  South  Point  last 
week— and  some  for  the  cows,  but  mostly 
it's  the  fishing  and  the  hunting." 

He  paused,  but  having  waited  in  vain  he 
said  directly:  "  I  can  show  you  the  best 
holes  in  the  Big  Sandy." 

There  was  another  of  those  little  waits 
with  which,  it  seemed,  the  stranger  met 
every  remark;  not  a  thoughtful  pause,  but 
rather  as  though  he  wondered  if  it  were 
worth  while  to  make  any  answer. 

"  I've  come  here  for  the  silence,"  he  said. 

"  Silence,"  repeated  Townsend,  nodding 
in  the  manner  of  one  who  does  not  under- 
stand. 

Then  he  flipped  the  roan  with  the  butt  of 
his  lines  and  squinted  down  the  gulch,  for 
he  felt  there  might  be  a  double  meaning  in 


THE    GARDEN    OF   EDEN. 


the  last  remark.  Filled  with  the  gloomy 
conviction  that  he  was  bringing  a  silent 
man  to  his  hotel,  he  gloomily  surveyed  the 
mountain  sides.  There  was  nothing  about 
them  to  cheer  him  The  trees  were  lost  in 
shadows  and  all  the  slopes  seemed  quite 
barren  of  life.  He  vented  a  little  burst  of 
anger  by  yanking  at  the  rein  of  the  off 
horse,  a  dirty  gray. 

"  Giddap,  Kitty,  damn  your  eyes!" 

The  mare  jumped,  struck  a  stone  with  a 
fore  foot,  and  stumbled  heavily.  Towns- 
end  straightened  her  out  again  with  an  ex- 
pert hand  and  cursed. 

•L  Of  all  the  no-good  bosses  I  ever  see," 
he  said,  inviting  the  stranger  to  share  in 
his  just  wrath,  "  this  Kitty  is  the  outbeat- 
ingest,  no  good  rascal.  Git  on,  fool." 

He  clapped  the  reins  along  her  back,  and 
puffed  his  disgust. 

"  And  yet  she  has  points.  Now,  I  ask 
you,  did  you  ever  see  a  truer  Steeldust? 
Look  at  that  high  croup  and  that  straight 
rump.  Look  at  them  hips,  I  say,  and  a 
chest  to  match  'em.  But  they  ain't  any 
heart  in  her.  Take  a  hoss  through  and 
through/'  he  went  on  oracularly,  "  they're 
pretty  much  like  men,  mostly,  and  if  a 
man  ain't  got  the  heart  inside,  it  don't 
make  no  difference  how  big  around  the 
chest  he  measures." 

.  Ben  Connor  had  leaned  forward,  study- 
ing the  mare. 

"  Your  horse  would  be  all  right  in  her 
place/'  he  said.  "  Of  course,  she  won't  do 
up  here  in  the  mountains." 

Like  any  true  Westerner  of  the  moun- 
tain-desert, Jack  Townsend  would  far 
rather  have  been  discovered  with  his  hand 
in  the  pocket  of  another  man  than  be  ob- 
served registering  surprise.  He  looked 
carefully  ahead  until  his  face  was  straight 
again.  Then  he  turned. 

•  Where  d'you  make  out  her  place  to 
be?"  he  asked  carelessly. 

"  Down  below,"  said  the  other  without 
hesitation,  and  he  waved  his  arm.  "  Down 
in  soft,  sandy  irrigation  country  she'd  be  a 
fine  animal/' 

Jack  Townsend  blinked.  "  You  know 
her?"  he  asked. 

The  other  shook  his  head. 

''Well,   damn  my  soul!"  breathed   the 


hotel  proprietor.    "  This  beats  me.    Maybe 
you  read  a  hoss's  mind,  partner?" 

Connor  shrugged  his  shoulders,  but 
Townsend  no  longer  took  offense  at  the 
taciturnity  of  his  companion;  he  spoke  now 
in  a  lower  confiding  voice  which  indicated 
an  admission  of  equality. 

"  You're  right.  They  said  she  was  good, 
and  she  was  good!  I  seen  her  run;  I  sad- 
dled her  up  and  rode  her  thirty  miles 
through  sand  that  would  of  broke  the  heart 
of  anything  but  a  Steeldust,  and  she  come 
through  without  battin'  an  eye.  But  when 
I  got  her  up  here  she  didn't  do  no  good. 
But  " — he  reverted  suddenly  to  his  original 
surprise — •'  how'd  you  know  her?  Recog- 
nize the  brand,  maybe?" 

"  By  her  trot,"  said  the  other,  and  he 
looked  across  the  hills. 

They  had  turned  an  angle  of  the  gulch, 
and  on  a  shelf  of  level  ground,  dishing  out 
from  the  side  of  the  mountain,  stretched 
the  town. 

"  Isn't  it  rather  odd,"  said  Connor,  •'  for 
people  to  build  a  town  over  here  when  they 
could  have  it  on  the  railroad?" 

"  Maybe  it  looks  queer  to  some,"  nodded 
Townsend. 

He  closed  his  lips  firmly,  determined  to 
imitate  the  terseness  of  his  guest;  but  when 
he  observed  with  a  side-glance  that  Connor 
would  not  press  the  inquiry,  talk  suddenly 
overflowed.  Indeed,  Townsend  was  a  run- 
ning well  of  good  nature,  continually  wash- 
ing all  bad  temper  over  the  brim. 

"  I'll  show  you  how  it  was,"  he  went  on. 
"  You  see  that  shoulder  of  the  mountain 
away  off  up  there?  If  the  light  was  clearer 
you'd  be  able  to  make  out  some  old  shacks 
up  there,  half  standin'  up  and  half  fallin' 
down.  That's  where  Lukin  used  to  be. 
"Well,  the  railroad  come  along  and  says: 
'  We're  goin'  to  run  a  spur  into  the  valley, 
here.  You  move  dotvn  and  build  your 
town  at  the  end  of  the  track  and  we'll  give 
you  a  hand  bringing  up  new  timber  for  the 
houses.'  That's  the  way  with  railroads; 
they  want  to  dictate;  they're  too  used  to 
handlin'  folks  back  East  that'll  let  capital 
walk  right  over  their  backs." 

Here  Townsend  sent  a  glance  at  Connor 
to  see  if  he  stirred  under  the  spur,  but 
there  was  no  sign  of  irritation. 


4  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 

;f  Out  here  we're  different;  nobody  can't  the  restaurant,  the  drug  store,  the  former 

step  in  here  and  run  us  unless  he's  asked,  saloon  now  transformed  into  an  ice-cream 

See?    We  said,  you  build  the  railroad  half  parlor,  and  other  public  places, 
way  and  well  come  the  other  half,  but  we         It  was  dark,  but  the  night  winds  had 

won't  come  clear  down  into  the  valley."  not  yet  commenced,  and  Lukin  sweltered 

"  Why?"  asked  Connor.     "  Isn't  Lukin  with   a   heat   more   unbearable   than    full 

Junction  a  good  place  for  a  village?"  moon. 

'•  Fine.      None    better.      But    it's    the        It  was  nothing  to  Ben  Connor,  however, 

principle  of  the  thing,  you  see?  Them  rail-  for  he  was  fresh  from  the  choking  summer 

road  magnates  says  to  us:  '  Come  all  the  nights  of   Manhattan,   and  in  Lukin,  no 

way.'    '  Go  to  the  devil,'  says  we.    And  so  matter  how  hot  it  became,  the  eye  could 

we  come  half-way  to  the  new  railroad  and  always  find  a  cool  prospect.    It  had  been 

built  our  town;  it'd  be  a  pile  more  agree-  unpleasant    enough    when    the    light    was 

able  to  have  Lukin  over  where  the  railroad  burning,  for  the  room  was  done  in  a  hot, 

ends — look  at  the  way  I  have  to  drive  back  orange-colored  paper,  but  when  he  blew 

and  forth  for  my  trade?  But  just  the  same,  out  the  lamp  and  sat  down  before  the  win- 

\ve  showed  that  railroad  that  it  couldn't  dow  he  forgot  the  room  and  let  his  glance 

talk  us  down.''  go  out  among  the  mountains.     A  young 

He  struck  his  horses  savagely  with  the  moon  drifted  across  the  corner  of  his  win- 
lines;  they  sprang  from  the  jog-trot  into  a  dow,  a  sickle  of  light  with  a  dim,  phos- 
canter,  and  the  buckboard  went  bumping  phorescent  line  around  the  rest  of  the  cir- 
down  the  main  street  of  Lukin.  cle.  It  was  bright  enough  to  throw  the 

peaks  into  strong  relief,  and  dull  enough 

to  let  the  stars  live. 

CHAPTER  II.  His  upward  vision  had  as  a  rule  been 

limited  by  the  higher  stories  of  some  sky- 

CONNOR   HEARS   A   CALL.  \ .  ,       .  ,  J 

scraper,  and  now  his  eye  wandered  with  a 

BEN  CONNOR  sat  in  his  room  over-  pleasant  sense  of  freedom  over  the  snow 
-looking  the  crossing  of  the  streets.  It  summits  where  he  could  imagine  a  cold 
was  by  no  means  the  ramshackle  hud-  wind  blowing  through  reach  after  reach  of 
die  of  lean-to's  that  he  had  expected,  for  the  blue-gray  sky.  It  pleased  and  troubled 
Lukin  was  built  to  withstand  a  siege  of  Ben  Connor  very  much  as  one  is  pleased 
January  snows  and  storm-winds  which  and  troubled  by  the  first  study  of  a  foreign 
were  scooped  by  the  mountains  into  a  fun-  language,  with  new  prospects  opening, 
nel  that  focused  straight  on  the  village,  strange  turns  of  thought,  and  great  un- 
Besides,  Lukin  was  no  accidental,  cross-  known  names  like  stars.  But  after  a  time 
roads  town,  but  the  bank,  store,  and  Ben  Connor  relaxed.  The  first  cool  puff 
amusement  center  of  a  big  country.  The  moved  across  his  forehead  and  carried  him 
timber  was  being  swept  from  the  Black  halfway  to  a  dreamless  sleep. 
Mountain;  there  were  fairly  prosperous  Here  a  chorus  of  mirth  burst  up  at  him 
mines  in  the  vicinity;  and  cattlemen  were  from  the  street,  men's  voices  pitched  high 
ranging  their  cows  over  the  plateaus  more  and  wild,  the  almost  hysterical  laughter  of 
and  more  during  the  spring  and  summer,  people  who  are  much  alone.  In  Manhat- 
Therefore,  Lukin  boasted  two  parallel  main  tan  only  drunken  men  laughed  like  this, 
streets,  and  a  cross  street,  looking  forward  Among  the  mountains  it  did  not  irritate 
to  the  day  when  it  should  be  incorporated  Ben  Connor;  in  tune  with  the  rest,  it  was 
and  have  a  mayor  of  its  own.  At  present  full  of  freedom.  He  looked  down  to  the 
it  had  a  moving-picture  house  and  a  dance  street,  and  seeing  half  a  dozen  bearded  fel- 
hall  where  a  hundred  and  fifty  couples  lows  frolic  in  the  shaft  of  light  from  a  win- 
could  take  the  floor  at  once;  above  all,  it  dow,  he  decided  that  people  kept  their 
had  Jack  Townsend's  hotel.  This  was  a  youth  longer  in  Lukin. 
stout,  timber  building  of  two  stories,  the  All  things  seemed  in  order  to  Connor, 
lower  portion  of  which  was  occupied  by  this  night.  He  rolled  his  sleeves  higher  to 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN.  5 

let  all  the  air  that  stirred  get  at  his  bulky  wins  title  in  eighth  round.  Lucky  punch 
forearms,  and  then  lighted  a  cigar.  It  was  dethrones  lightweight  champion."  Ben 
a  dark,  oily  Havana — it  had  cost  him  a  Connor  swallowed  hard  and  found  that  his 
great  deal  in  money  and  nerves  to  acquire  throat  was  dry.  He  was  afraid  of  himself 
that  habit— and  he  breathed  the  scent  • — afraid  that  he  would  go  back.  He  was 
deep  while  he  waited  for  the  steady  wind  recalled  from  his  ugly  musing  by  the  odor 
which  Jack  Townsend  had  promised,  of  the  cigar,  which  had  burned  out  and 
There  was  just  enough  noise  to  give  the  was  filling  the  room  with  a  rank  smell;  he 
silence  that  waiting  quality  which  cannot  tossed  the  crumbled  remnants  through  the 
be  described;  below  him  voices  murmured,  window,  crushed  his  hat  upon  his  head, 
and  lifted  now  and  then,  rhythmically,  and  went  down,  collarless,  coatless,  to  get 
Ben  Connor  thought  the  sounds  strangely  on  the  street  in  the  sound  of  men's  voices, 
musical,  and  he  began  to  brim  with  the  If  he  had  been  in  Manhattan  he  would 
same  good  nature  which  puffed  the  cheeks  have  called  up  a  pal;  they  would  have 
of  Jack  Townsend.  There  was  a  substan-  planned  an  evening  together;  but  in  Lu- 
tial  basis  for  that  content  in  the  broiled  kin- 
trout  which  he  had  had  for  dinner.  It  was  At  the  door  below  he  glared  up  and 
while  his  thoughts  drifted  back  to  those  down  the  street.  There  was  nothing  to  see 
browned  fish  that  the  first  wind  struck  him.  but  a  light  buggy  which  rolled  noiselessly 
Dust  with  an  acrid  scent  whirled  up  from  through  the  dust.  A  dog  detached  itself 
the  street — then  a  steady  stream  of  air  from  behind  the  vehicle  and  came  to  bark 
swept  his  face  and  arms.  furiously  at  his  feet.  The  kicking  muscles 

It  was  almost  as  if  another  personality  in  Connor's  leg  began  to  twitch,  but  a  voice 

had  stepped  into  the  room.     The  sounds  shouted   and   the    mongrel    trotted   away, 

from  the  street  fell  away,  and  there  was  growling  a  challenge  over  its  shoulder.  The 

the  rustling  of  cloth  somewhere,  the  cool  silence   fell   once   more.     He   turned   and 

lifting  of  hair  from  his  forehead,  and  an  strode  back  to  the  desk  of  the  hotel,  behind 

odd  sense  of  motion — as  if  the  wind  were  which  Jack  Townsend  sat  tilted  back  in  his 

blowing  through  him.    But  something  else  chair  reading  a  newspaper, 

came  with  the  breeze,  and  though  he  noted  "  What's  doing  in  this  town  of  yours  to- 

it  at  first  with  only  a  subconscious  discon-  night?"  he  asked. 

tent,  it  beat  gradually  into  his  mind,  a  light  The  proprietor  moistened  a  fat  thumb  to 

ticking,  very  rapid,  and  faint,  and  sound-  turn  the  page  and  looked  over  his  glasses  at 

ing  in  an  irregular  rhythm.    He  wanted  to  Connor. 

straighten  out  that  rhythm  and  make  the  "  Appears  to  me  there  ain't  much  stir- 
flutter  of  tapping  regular.  Then  it  began  rin'  about,"  he  said.  "  Except  for  the 
to  take  on  a  meaning;  it  framed  words.  movies  down  the  street.  You  see,  every  - 

"  Philip  Lord,  jailed  for  embezzlement.''  body's  there." 

"Hell!"  burst  out  Ben  Connor.    "The  "Movies,"  muttered  Connor  under  his 

telegraph!'1  breath,  and  looked  savagely  around  him. 

He  started  up  from  his  chair,  feeling  be-  What  his  eyes  fell- on  was  a  picture  of  an 

trayed,  for  that  light,  irregular  tapping  was  old,  old  man  on  the  wall,  and  the  rusted 

the  voice  of  the  world  from  which  he  had  stove  which  stood  in  the  center  of  the  room 

fled.    A  hard,  cool  mind  worked  behind  the  with  a  pipe  zigzagging  uncertainly  toward 

gray  eyes  of  Ben  Connor,  but  as  he  fin-  the  ceiling.     Everything  was  out  of  order, 

gered  the  cigar  his  brain  was  fumbling  at  broken  down — like  himself, 

a  large  idea.    Forty-Second  and  Broadway  "  Looks  to  me  like  you're  kind  of  off 

was  calling  him  back.  your  feet,"  said  Jack  Townsend,  and  he 

When  he  looked  out  the  window,  now,  laid  down  his  paper  and  looked  wistfully 

the  mountains  were  flat  shapes  against  a  at  his  guest.    He  made  up  his  mind.    "  If 

flat   sky,  with  no  more  meaning  than  a  you're  kind  of  dry  for  a  drink,"  he  said, 

picture.  "  I  might  rustle  you  a  flask  of  red-eye — 

The  sounder  was  chattering:  "  Kid  Lane  '  Whisky?"  echoed   Connor,  and  mois- 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


tened  his  lips.  Then  he  shook  his  head. 
"  Not  that." 

He  went  back  to  the  door  with  steps  so 
long  and  heavy  that  Jack  Townsend  rose 
from  his  chair,  and  spreading  his  hands  on 
the  desk,  peered  after  the  muscular  figure. 

"  That  gent  is  a  bad  hombre,"  pro- 
nounced Jack  to  himself.  He  sat  down 
again  with  a  sigh,  and  added:  "  Maybe." 

At  the  door  Connor  was  snarling: 
"  Quiet?  Sure;  like  a  grave!" 

The  wind  freshened,  fell  away,  and  the 
light,  swift  ticking  sounded  again  more 
clearly.  It  mingled  with  the  alkali  scent 
of  the  dust — Manhattan  and  the  desert  to- 
gether. He  felt  a  sense  of  persecuted  vir- 
tue. But  one  of  his  maxims  was:  "  If  any- 
thing bothers  you,  go  and  find  out  about 
it." 

Ben  Connor  largely  used  maxims  and 
epigrams;  he  met  crises  by  remembering 
what  some  one  else  had  said.  The  ticking 
of  the  sounder  was  making  him  homesick 
and  dangerously  nervous,  so  he  went  to 
find  the  telegrapher  and  see  the  sounder 
•which  brought  the  voice  of  the  world  into 
Lukin. 

A  few  steps  carried  him  to  a  screen  door 
through  which  he  looked  upon  a  long,  nar- 
row office. 

In  a  corner,  an  electric  fan  swung  back 
and  forth  through  a  hurried  arc  and  flut- 
tered papers  here  and  there.  Its  whining 
almost  drowned  the  ticking  of  the  sounder, 
and  Ben  Connor  wondered  with  dull  irri- 
tation how  a  tapping  which  was  hardly  au- 
dible at  the  door  of  the  office  could  carry 
to  his  room  in  the  hotel.  He  opened  the 
door  and  entered. 


CHAPTER  III. 

CONNOR   TALKS   SHOP. 

IT  was  a  room  not  more  than  eight  feet 
wide,  very  long,  with  the  floor,  walls, 
and   ceiling  of   the  same  narrow,  un- 
painted  pine  boards;  the  flooring  was  worn 
ragged  and  the  ceiling  warped  into  waves. 
Across  the  room  a  wide  plank  with  a  trap- 
door at  one  end  served  as  a  counter,  and 
now  it  was  littered  with  yellow  telegraph 
blanks,,  and  others,  crumpled  up,  were  scat- 


tered about  Connor's  feet.  No  sooner  had 
the  screen  door  squeaked  behind  him  and 
shut  him  fairly  into  the  place  than  the 
staccato  rattling  of  the  sounder  multiplied, 
and  seemed  to  chatter  from  the  wall  be- 
hind him.  It  left  an  echoing  in  the  ear  of 
Ben  Connor  which  formed  into  the  words 
of  his  resolution,  "  I've  made  my  stake  and 
I'm  going  to  beat  it.  I'm  going  to  get 
away  where  I  can  forget  the  worries.  To- 
day I  beat  'em.  To-morrow  the  worries 
will  beat  me." 

That  was  why  he  was  in  Lukin — to  for- 
get. And  here  the  world  had  sneaked  up 
on  him  and  whispered  in  his  ear.  Was  it 
fair? 

It  wras  a  woman  who  "  jerked  lightning  " 
for  Lukin.  With  that  small  finger  on  the 
key  she  took  the  pulse  of  the  world. 

"  Belmont  returns—  chattered  the 
sounder. 

Connor  instinctively  covered  his  ears. 
Then,  feeling  that  he  was  acting  like  a  silly 
child,  he  lowered  his  hands. 

Another  idea  had  come  to  him  that  this 
was  fate— luck — his  luck.  Why  not  take 
another  chance? 

He  wavered  a  moment,  fighting  the 
temptation  and  gloomily  studying  the  back 
of  the  operator.  The  cheapness  of  her 
white  cotton  dress  fairly  shouted  at  him. 
Also  her  hair  straggled  somewhat  about  the 
nape  of  her  neck.  All  this  irritated  Connor 
absurdly. 

"  Fifth  race,"  said  the  sounder:  "  Lady 
•Beck,  first;  Conqueror,  second- 
Certainly  this  was  fate  tempting  tune. 

Connor  snatched  a  telegraph  blank  and 
scribbled  a  message  to  Harry  Slocum,  his 
betting  commissioner  during  this  unhappy 
vacation. 

"  Send  dope  on  Murray  handicaps  time 
— trials  of  Trickster  and  Caledonian.  Ho- 
tel Townsend." 

This  done,  having  tapped  sharply  on  the 
counter  to  call  the  operator's  attention,  he 
dropped  his  elbows  on  the  plank  and 
scowled  downward  in  profound  reverie. 
They  were  pouring  out  of  Belmont  Park, 
now,  many  a  grim  face  and  many  a  joyous 
face.  Money  had  come  easy  and  gone 
easy.  Ah,  the  reckless  bonhomie  of  that 
crowd,  living  for  to-day  only,  because  "  to- 


THE    GARDEN    OF   EDEN. 


morrow  the  ponies  may  have  it!"  A  good 
day  for  the  bookies  if  that  old  cripple, 
Lady  Beck,  had  found  her  running  legs. 
What  a  trimming  they  must  have  given  the 
wise  ones! 

At  this  point  another  hand  came  into  the 
circle  of  his  vision  and  turned 'the  telegram 
about.  A  pencil  flicked  across  the  words, 
checking  them  swiftly.  Connor  was  fasci- 
nated by  that  hand,  it  was  so  cool,  so  slen- 
der and  deft.  He  glanced  up  to  her  face 
and  saw  a  resolute  chin,  a  smiling  mouth 
which  was  truly  lovely,  and  direct  eyes  as 
dark  as  his  own.  She  carried  her  head 
buoyantly,  in  a  way  that  made  Connor 
think,  with  a  tingle,  of  some  clean-blooded 
filly  at  the  post. 

The  girl  made  his  change,  and  shoving 
it  across,  she  bent  her  head  toward  the 
sounder.  The  characters  came  through  too 
swiftly  for  even  Ben  Connor's  sharp  ear, 
but  the  girl,  listening,  smiled  slowly. 

"  Something  about  soft  pine?"  queried 
Connor. 

She  brightened  at  this  unexpected  meet- 
ing-point. Her  eyes  widened  as  she  stud- 
ied him  and  listened  to  the  message  at  the 
same  time,  and  she  accomplished  this  dou- 
ble purpose  with  such  calm  that  Connor 
felt  a  trifle  abashed.  Then  the  shadow  of 
listening  vanished,  and  she  concentrated  on 
Connor. 

"  Soft  pine  is  up,"  she  nodded.  "  I 
knew  it  would  climb  as  soon  as  old  Lucas 
bought  in." 

"  Speculator  in  Lukin,  is  he?" 

"No.  California.  The  one  whose 
yacht  burned  at  Honolulu  last  year.  Sold 
pine  like  wild  lire  two  months  ago;  down 
goes  the  price.  Then  he  bought  a  little 
while  ago,  and-  now  the  pine  skyrockets. 
He  can  buy  a  new  yacht  with  what  he 
makes,  I  suppose!" 

The  shade  of  listening  darkened  her  eyes 
again.  "Listen!"  She  raised  a  hushing 
forefinger  that  seemed  tremulous  in  rhythm 
with  the  ticking. 

••  Wide  brims  are  in  again,"  exclaimed 
the  operator,  "  and  wide  hats  are  awful  on 
me;  isn't  that  the  luck?" 

She  went  back  to  her  key  with  the  mes- 
sage in  her  harrd.  and  Connor,  dropping  his 
elbows  on  the  counter,  watched  her  send  it. 


wirh  swift  almost  imperceptible  flections  of 
her  wrist. 

Then  she  sat  again  with  her  hands  fold- 
ed in  her  lap,  listening,  Connor  turned  his 
head  and  glanced  through  the  door;  by 
squinting  he  could  look  over  the  roof  just 
across  the  street  and  see  the  shadowy 
mountains  beyond;  then  he  looked  back 
again  and  watched  the  girl  listening  to  the 
voice  of  the  outer  world.  The  shock  of  the 
contrast  soothed.  He  began  to  forget 
about  Ben  Connor  and  think  of  her. 

The  girl  turned  in  her  chair  and  directly 
faced  him,  and  he  saw  that  she  moved  her 
whole  body  just  as  she  moved  her  hand, 
swiftly,  but  without  a  jerk;  she  considered 
him  gravely. 

"Lonely?"  she  inquired.  "Or  wor- 
ried?" 

She  spoke  with  such  a  commonplace  in- 
tonation that  one  might  have  thought  it 
her  business  to  attend  to  loneliness  and  wor- 
ries. 

"As  a  matter  of  fact,"  answered  Ben 
Connor,  instinctively  dodging  the  direct 
query,  u  I've  been  wondering  how  they  hap- 
pened to  stick  a  number-one  artist  on  this 
wire. 

"  I'm  not  kidding,"  he  explained  hastily, 
••  You  see,  I  used  to  jerk  lightning  my- 
self." 

For  the  first  time  she  really  smiled,  and 
he  discovered  what  a  rare  thing  a  smile 
may  be.  Up  to  that  point  he  had  thought 
she  lacked  something,  just  as  the  white 
dress  lacked  a  touch  of  color. 

"  Oh,"  she  nodded.  "  Been  off  the  wire 
long?" 

Ben  Connor  grinned.  It  began  with  his 
lips;  last  of  all  the  dull  gray  eyes  lighted. 

"  Ever  since  a  hot  day  in  July  at  Aque- 
duct. The  Lorrimer  Handicap  on  the  1 1  th 
of  July,  to  be  exact.  I  tossed  up  my  job 
the  next  day." 

"  I  see,"  she  said,  becoming  aware  of 
him  again.  "  You  played  Tip-Top  Sec- 
ond." 

••  The  deuce!  Were  you  at  Aqueduct 
that  day?" 

11 1  was  here — on  the  wire."  He  re- 
strained himself  with  an  effort,  for  a  series 
of  questions  was  Connor's  idea  of  a  dull 
conversation.  He  merely  rubbed  his 


8  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 

knuckles  against  his  chin  and  looked  at  her  legs  that  never  pulled  a  wagon,  and  backs 

wistfully.  that   couldn't   weight.      Just   toys;    speed 

"  He   nipped    King   Charles    and   Miss  machines;  all  heart  and  fire  and  springy 

Lazy  at  the  wire  and  squeezed  home  by  a  muscles.     It  made  my  pulse  jump  to  the 

nose — paid  a  fat  price,  I  remember,"  went  fever   point   to   watch    them   light-foot   it 

on  the  girl.     "  I  suppose  you  had  some-  along  the  rail  with  the  groom  in  front  on  a 

thing  down  on  him?'1  clod  of  a  horse.     I  felt  that  I'd  lived  the 

"  Did  a  friend  of  yours  play  that  race?"  way  that  horse  walked — downheaded,  and 

"  Oh,  no;   but  I  was  new  to  the  wire,  I  decided  to  change." 

then,  and  I  used  to  cut  in  and  listen  to  He  stopped  short  and  locked  his  stubby 

everything  that  came  by."  fingers  together,  frowning  at  her  so  that 

"  I   know.     It's  like  having  some   one  the  lines  beside  his  mouth  deepened, 

whisper  secrets  in  your  ear,  at  first,  isn't  "  I  seem  to  be  telling  you  the  story  of 

it?     But  you  remember  the  Lorrimer,  eh?  my  life,"  he  said.    Then  he  saw  that  she 

That  was  a  race!"  was  studying  him,  not  with  idle  curiosity, 

The  sounder  stopped  chattering,  and  by  but  rather  as  one  turns  the  pages  of  an  ab- 

an  alternation  in  her  eyes  he  knew  that  up  sorbing  book,  never  knowing  what  the  next 

to  that  moment  she  had  been  giving  two-  moment  wilf  reveal  or  where  the  characters 

thirds  of  her  attention  to  the  voice  of  the  will  be  taken. 

wire  and  the  other  fraction  to  him;   but  "  You  want  to  talk;  I  want  to  hear  you,'1 

now  she  centered  upon  him,  and  he  want-  she  said  gravely.     "  Go  ahead.     Besides- 

ed  to  talk.     As  if,  mysteriously,  he  could  I  don't  chatter  afterward.     They  paraded 

share  some  of  the  burden  of  his  unrest  with  past  the  grand  stand,  then  what?" 

the  girl.     Most  of  all  he  wished  to  talk  Ben  Connor  sighed, 

because  this  office  had  lifted  him  back  to  "  I  watched  four  races.     The  wise  guys 

the  old  days  of  "  lightning  jerking,"  when  with  me  were  betting  ten  bucks  on  every 

he  worked  for  a  weekly  pay-check.     The  race  and  losing  on  red-hot  tips;  and  every 

same  nervous  eagerness  which  had  been  his  time  I  picked  out  the  horse  that  looked 

in  that  time  was  now  in  this  girl,  and  he  good  to  me,  that  horse  ran  in  the  money, 

responded  to  it  like  a  call  of  blood  to  blood.  Then    they    came   out    for   the    Lorrimer. 

"  A  couple  of  wise  ones  took  me  out  to  One  of  my  friends  was  betting  on  King 

Aqueduct  that  day:    I  had  all   that  was  Charles  and  the  other  on  Miss  Lazy.    Both 

coming  to  me  for  a  month  in  my  pocket,  of  them  couldn't  win,  and  the  chance  was 

and  I  kept  saying  to  myself:  '  They  think  that  neither  of  them  would.     So  I  looked 

I'll  fall  for  this  game  and  drop  my  wad;  over  the  line  as  it  went  by  the  stand.  King 

here's  where  I  fool  'em!'  Charles  was  a  little  chestnut,  one  of  those 

He  chuckled  as  he  remembered.  long  fellows  that  stretch  like  rubber  when 

;'  Go  on,"  said  the  girl.    "  You  make  me  they  commence  running;  Miss  Lazy  was  a 

feel  as  if  /  were  about  to  make  a  clean-  gangling  bay.     Yes,  they  were  both  good 

up!"  horses,  but  I   looked   over   the  rest,  and 

"  Really  interested?"  pretty  soon  I  saw  a  rangy  chestnut  with  a 

She  fixed  an  eager  glance  on  him,  as  white  foreleg  and  a  midget  of  a. boy  up  in 

though  she  were  judging  how  far  she  might  the    saddle.      '  No.    7 — Tip-Top    Second,' 

let  herself  go.    Suddenly  she  leaned  closer  said  the  wise  guy  on  my  right  when  I  asked 

to  Connor.  him;  '  a  lame  one.'    Come  to  look  at  him 

"  Interested?    I've  been  taking  the  world  again,  he  was  doing  a  catch  step  with  his 

off  the  wire  for  six  years — and  you've  been  front  feet,  but  I  had  an  idea  that  when  he 

where  things  happen."  got  going  he'd  forget  all  about  that  catch 

"  That's  the  way   I    felt   at   Aqueduct  and  run  like  the  wind.     Understand?" 

•when  I  saw  the  ponies  parade  past  the  "Just  a  hunch,"  said  the  girl.    "Yes!" 

grand  stand  the  first  time,"  he  nodded.  She  stepped  closer  to  the  counter  and 

"  They  came  dancing  on  the  bitt,  and  even  leaned   across  it.     Her  eyes  were  bright. 

I  could  see  that  they  weren't  made  for  use:  Connor  knew  that  she  was  seeing  that  pic- 


THE    GARDEN"    OF    EDEN. 


ture  of  the  hot  day,  the*  crowd  of  straw 
hats  stirring  wildly,  the  murmur  and  cry- 
that  went  up  as  the  string  of  racers  jogged 
past. 

"  They  went  to  the  post,"  said  Connor, 
"  and  I  got  down  my  bet — a  hundred  dol- 
lars, my  whole  wad — on  Tip-Top  Second. 
The  bookie  looked  just  once  at  me,  and 
I'll  never  forget  how  his  eyebrows  went  to- 
gether. I  went  back  to  my  seat." 

"  You  were  shaking  all  over,  I  guess," 
suggested  the  girl,  and  her  hands  were 
quivering. 

u  I  was  not,"  said  Ben  Connor,  "  I  was 
cold  through  and  through,  and  never  moved 
my  eyes  off  Tip-Top  Second.  His  jockey 
had  a  green  jacket  with  two  stripes  through 
it,  and  the  green  was  easy  to  watch.  I 
saw  the  crowd  go  off,  and  I  saw  Tip-Top 
left  flat-footed  at  the  post." 

The  girl  drew  a  breath.  Connor  smiled 
at  her.  The  hot  evening  had  flushed  his 
face,  but  now  a  small  spot  of  white  ap- 
peared in  either  cheek,  and  his  dull  eyes 
had  grown  expressionless.  She  knew  what 
he  meant  when  he  said  that  he  was  cold 
when  he»saw  the  string  go  to  the  post. 

"  It — it  must  have  made  you  sick! "  said 
the  girl. 

"  Not  a  bit.  I  knew  the  green  jacket 
was  going  to  finish  ahead  of  the  rest  as  well 
as  I  knew  that  my  name  was  Ben  Connor. 
I  said  he  was  left  at  the  post.  Well,  it 
wasn't  exactly  that,  but  when  the  bunch 
•came  streaking  out  of  the  shoot,  he  was 
half  a  dozen  lengths  behind.  It  was  a  mile 
and  an  eighth  race.  They  went  down  the 
back  stretch,  eight  horses  all  bunched  to- 
gether, and  the  green  jacket  drifting  that 
half  dozen  lengths  to  the  rear.  The  wise 
guys  turned  and  grinned  at  me;  then  they 
forgot  all  about  me  and  began  to  yell  for 
King  Charles  and  Miss  Lazy. 

"  The  bunch  were  going  around  the  turn 
and  the  two  favorites  were  fighting  it  out 
together.  But  I  had  an  eye  for  the  green 
jacket,  and  halfway  around  the  turn  I  saw 
him  move  up." 

The  girl  sighed. 

"  No,"  Connor  continues,  "  he  hadn't 
won  the  race  yet.  And  he  never  should 
have  won  it  at  all,  but  King  Charles  was 
earning  a  hundred  and  thirty-eight 


pounds,  and  Miss  Lazy  a  hundred  and 
thirty-three,  while  Tip-Top  Second  came  in 
as  a  fly-weight  eighty-seven  pounds!  No 
horse  in  the  world  could  give  that  much  to 
him  when  he  was  right,  but  who  guessed 
that  then? 

"  They  swung  around  the  turn  and  hit 
the  stretch.  Tip-Top  took  the  curve  like  a 
cart  horse.  Then  the  bunch  straightened 
out,  with  King  Charles  and  Miss  Lazy 
fighting  each  other  in  front  and  the  rest 
streaking  out  behind  like  the  tail  of  a  flag. 
They  did  that  first  mile  in  1.38,  but  they 
broke  their  hearts  doing  it,  with  that 
weight  up. 

"  They  had  an  eighth  to  go — one  little 
measly  furlong,  with  Tip-Top  in  the  ruck, 
and  the  crowd  screaming  for  King  Charles 
and  Miss  Lazy;  but  just  exactly  at  the 
mile  post  the  leaders  flattened,  I  didn't 
know  it,  but  the  man  in  front  of  me 
dropped  his  glasses  and  his  head.  '  Blown! ' 
he  said,  and  that  was  all.  It  seemed  to  me- 
that  the  two  in  front  were  running  as 
strongly  as  ever,  but  Tip-Top  was  running 
better.  He  came  streaking,  with  the  boy 
flattening  out  along  his  neck  and  the  whip 
going  up  and  down.  But  I  didn't  stir.  I 
couldn't;  my  blood  was  turned  to  ice 
water. 

"  Tip-Top  walked  by  the  ruck  and  got 
his  nose  on  the  hip  of  King  Charles.  Some- 
fbody  was  yelling  behind  me  in  a  squeaky 
voice:  '  There  is  something"  wrong! 
There's  something  wrong!'  There  was, 
too,  and  it  was  the  eighty-seven  pounds 
that  a  fool  handicapper  had  put  on  Tip- 
Top.  At  the  sixteenth  Miss  Lazy  threw 
up  her  head  like  a  swimmer  going  down 
and  dropped  back,  and  Tip-Top  was  on  the 
King's  shoulder.  Fifty  yards  to  the  finish; 
twenty-five — then  the  King  staggered  as  if 
he'd  been  hit  between  the  ears,  and  Tip- 
Top  jumped  out  to  win  by  a  neck. 

"  There  was  one  big  breath  of  silence  in 
the  grand  stand — then  a  groan.  I  turned 
my  head  and  saw  the  two  wise  guys  look- 
ing at  me  with  sick  grins.  Afterward  I 
collected  two  thousand  bucks  from  a  sicker 
looking  bookie." 

He  paused  and  smiled  at  the  girl. 

"  That  was  the  nth  of  July.  First  real 
day  of  my  life." 


10 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 


She  gathered  her  mind  out  of  that  scene. 

"  You  stepped  out  of  a  telegraph  office, 
with  your  finger  on  the  key  all  day,  every 
day,  and  you  jumped  into  two  thousand 
dollars?" 

After  she  had  stopped  speaking  her 
thoughts  went  on,  written  in  her  eyes. 

"You'd  like  to  try  it,  eh?"  said  Ben 
Connor. 

"  Haven't  you  had  years  of  happiness 
put  of  it?" 

He  looked  at  her  with  a  grimace. 

"  Happiness?"  he  echoed.  "  Happi- 
ness?" 

She  stepped  back  so  that  she  put  his 
deeply-marked  face  in  a  better  light. 

"  You're  a  queer  one  for  a  winner." 

"  Sure,  the  turf  is  crowded  with  queer 
ones  like  me." 

"  Winners,  all  of  'em?" 

His  eye  had  been  gradually  brightening 
while  he  talked  to  her.  He  felt  that  the 
girl  rang  true,  as  men  ring  true,  yet  there 
was  nothing  masculine  about  her. 

"  You've  heard  racing  called,  the  sport 
of  kings?  That's  because  only  kings  can 
afford  to  follow  the  ponies.  Kings  and 
Wall  Street.  But  a  fellow7  can't  squeeze 
in  without  capital.  I've  made  a  go  of  it 
for  a  while;  pretty  soon  we  all  go  smash. 
Sooner  or  later  I'll  do  what  everybody  else 
does — put  up  my  cash  on  a  sure  thing  and 
see  my  money  go  up  in  smoke." 

"  TherT  why  don't  you  pull  out  with 
what  you  have?" 

"  Why  does  the  earth  keep  running 
around  the  sun?  Because  there's  a  pull. 
Once  you've  followed  the  ponies  you'll 
keep  on  following  'em.  No  hope  for  it. 
Oh,  I've  seen  the  boys  come  up  one  after 
another,  make  their  killings,  hit  a  streak  of 
bad  luck,  plunge,  and  then  watch  their 
sure-things  throw  up  its  tail  in  the  stretch 
and  fade  into  the  ruck." 

He  was  growing  excited  as  he  talked;  he 
was  beginning  to  realize  that  he  must  make 
his  break  from  the  turf  now  or  never.  And 
he  spoke  more  to  himself  than  to  the 
girl. 

"  We  all  hang  on.  We  play  the  game 
till  it  breaks  us  and  still  we  stay  with  it. 
Here  I  am,  two  thousand  miles  away  from 
the  tracks — and  sending  for  dope  to  make 


a  play!  Can  you  beat  that?  Well,  so- 
long." 

He  turned  away  gloomily. 

"  Good  night,  Mr.  Connor." 

He  turned  sharply. 

"  WTiere'd  you  get  that  name?"  he  asked 
with  a  trace  of  suspicion. 

"  Off  the  teelgram." 

He  nodded,  but  said:  "  I've  an  idea  I've 
been  chattering  too  much." 

"  My  name  is  Ruth  Manning,"  answered 
the  girl.  "'  I  don't  think  you've  said  too 
much." 

He  kept  his  eyes  steadily  on  her  while 
he  shook  hands. 

"  I'm  glad  I  know  some  one  in  Lukin," 
said  Connor.  "  Good  night,  again." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

CONNOR    SEES   A   HORSE. 

WHEN  Connor  wakened  the  next 
morning,  after  his  first  impression 
of  blinding  light,  he  closed  his  eyes 
and  waited  for  the  sense  of  unhappy  doom 
which  usually  comes  to  men  of  tense  nerves 
and  active  life  after  sleep;  but,  with  slow 
and  pleasant  wonder,  he  realized  that  the 
old  numbness  of  brain  and  fever  of  pulse 
was  gone.  Then  he  looked  up  and  lazily 
watched  the  shadow  of  the  vine  at  his  win- 
dow move  across  the  ceiling,  a  dim-bor- 
dered shadow  continually  changing  as  the 
wind  gathered  the  leaves  in  solid  masses 
and  shook  them  out  again.  He  pored  upon 
this  for  a  time,  and  next  he  watched  a 
spider  spinning  a  web  in  the  corner;  she 
worked  in  a  draft  which  repeatedly  lift- 
ed her  from  her  place  before  she  had  fas- 
tened her  thread,  and  dropped  her  a  foot 
or  more  into  space.  Connor  sat  up  to  ad- 
mire the  artisan's  skill  and  courage.  Com- 
pared to  men  and  insects,  the  spider  really 
worked  over  an  abyss  two  hundred  feet 
deep,  suspended  by  a  silken  thread.  Con- 
nor slipped  out  of  bed  and  stood  beneath 
the  growing  web  while  the  main  cross 
threads  were  being  fastened.  He  had  been 
there  for  some  time  when,  turning  away  to 
rub  the  ache  out  of  the  back  of  his  neck, 
he  again  met  the  contrast  between  the  man 
of  this  morning  and  the  man  of  other  days. 


Tilt    GARDEN    OF    EDKX. 


11 


This  time  it  was  his  image  in  the  mir- 
ror, meeting  him  as  he  turned.  That  deep 
wrinkle  in  the  middle  of  the  forehead  was 
half  erased.  The  lips  were  neither  com- 
pressed nor  loose  and  shaking,  and  the  eye 
\vas  calm — it  rested  him  to  meet  that 
glance  in  the  mirror. 

A  mood  of  idle  content  always  brings 
one  to  the  window:  Connor  looked  out  on 
the  street.  A  horseman  hopped  past  like 
a  day  shadow,  the  hoofbeats  muffled  by 
thick  sand,  and  the  wind,  moving  at  an 
exactly  equal  pace,  carried  a  mist  of  dust 
just  behind  the  horse's  tail.  Otherwise 
there  was  neither  life  nor  color  in  the  street 
of  weather-beaten,  low  buildings,  and  the 
eye  of  Connor  went  beyond  the  roofs  and 
began  to  climb  the  mountains.  Here  was  a 
bald  bright  cliff,  there  a  drift  of  trees,  and 
again  a  surface  of  raw  clay  from  which  the 
upper  soil  had  recently  slipped;  but  these 
were  not  stopping  points — they  were  rather 
the  steps  which  led  the  glance  to  a  sky  of 
pale  and  transparent  blue,  and  Connor  felt 
a  great  desire  to  have  that  sky  over  him  in 
place  of  a  ceiling. 

He  splashed  through  a  hasty  bath, 
dressed,  and  ran  down  the  stairs,  hum- 
ming. Jack  Townsend  stood  on  a  box  in 
the  corner  of  the  room,  probing  at  a  spider 
web  in  the  corner. 

"Too  late  for  breakfast?'*  asked  Con- 
nor. 

The  fat  shoulders  of  the  proprietor 
quivered,  but  he  did  not  turn. 

"  Too  late,"  he  snapped.  '•  llreakfast 
over  at  nine.  No  favorites  up  here." 

Connor  waited  for  the  wave  of  irritation 
to  rise  in  him,  but  to  his  own  surprise  he 
found  himself  saying: 

"  All  right;  you  can't  throw  a  good  horse 
off  his  feed  by  cutting  out  one  meal." 

Jack  Townsend  faced  his  guest,  rubbing 
his  many-folded  chin. 

"  Don't  take  long  for  this  mountain  air 
to  brace  up  a  gent,  does  it?"  he  asked 
rather  pointedly. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what,"  said  Connor.  "  It 
isn't  the  air  so  much;  it's  the  people  that 
do  a  fellow  good." 

"  Well,"  admitted  the  proprietor  mod- 
estly, "  they  may  be  something  in  that. 
Kind  of  heartier  out  here,  ain't  they?  More 


than  in  the  city,  I  guess.  I'll  tell  you 
what,"  he  added.  u  I'll  go  out  and  speak 
to  the  missus  about  a  snack  for  you.  It's 
late,  but  we  like  to  be  obligin'." 

Pie  climbed  carefully  down  from  the  box 
and  started  away. 

"  That  girl  again,"  thought  Connor,  and 
snapped  his  fingers.  His  spirits  continued 
to  rise,  if  that  were  possible,  during  the. 
breakfast  of  ham  and  eggs,  and  coffee  of 
a  taste  so  metallic  that  only  a  copious  use 
of  cream  made  it  drinkable.  Jack  Town- 
send,  recovering  to  the  full  his  customary 
good  nature,  joined  his  guest  in  a  huge 
piece  of  toast  with  a  layer  of  ham  on  it— 
simply  to  keep  a  stranger  from  eating  alone, 
he  said — and  while  he  ate  he  talked  about 
the  race.  Connor  had  noticed  that  the 
lobby  was  almost  empty. 

"  They're  over  lookin'  at  the  hosses," 
said  Townsend,  "  and  gettin'  their  bets 
down." 

Connor  laid  down  knife  and  fork,  and 
resumed  them  hastily,  but  thereafter  his 
interest  in  his  food  was  entirely  perfunc- 
tory. From  the  corner  of  his  eye  a  gleam 
kept  steadily  upon  the  face  of  Townsend, 
who  continued: 

"  Speaking  personal,  Mr.  Connor,  I'd  like 
to  have  you  look  over  them  hosses  your- 
self." 

Connor,  on  the  verge  of  speech,  checked 
himself  with  a  quick  effort. 

"  Because,"  continued  Townsend,  "  if  I 
had  your  advice  I  might  get  down  a  little 
stake  on  one  of  'em.  You  see?" 

Ben  Connor  paused  with  a  morsel  of  ham 
halfway  toward  his  lips. 

"  Who  told  you  I  know  anything  about 
horses?"  he  asked. 

"  You  told  me  yourself,"  grinned  the  pro- 
prietor, "  and  I'd  like  to  figure  how  you 
knew  the  mare  come  from  the  Bailor 
Valley." 

"  From  which?" 

"  From  the  Bailor  Valley.  You  even 
named  the  irrigation  and  sand  and  all  that. 
But  you'd  seen  her  brand  before,  I  s'pose?" 

"  Hoofs  like  hers  never  came  out  of  these 
mountains,"  smiled  Ben  Connor.  "  See  the 
way  she  throws  them  and  how  flat  the)' 


are. 


Well,  that's  true,"  nodded  Jack  Town- 


12 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 


send.  "  It  seems  simple,  now  you  say  what 
it  was,  but  it  had  me  beat  up  to  now.  That 
is  the  way  with  most  things.  Take  a  fine 
hand  with  a  rope.  He  daubs  it  on  a  cow 
so  dead  easy  any  fool  thinks  he  can  do 
the  same.  No,  ^Vlr.  Connor,  I'd  still  like 
to  have  you  come  out  and  take  a  look 
at  them  hosses.  Besides  " — he  lowered  his 
voice — "  you  might  pick  up  a  bit  of  loose 
change  yourself.  They's  a  plenty  rolling 
round  to-day." 

Connor  laughed,  but  there  was  excite- 
ment behind  his  mirth. 

"  The  fact  is,  Townsend,"  he  said,  "  I'm 
not  interested  in  racing  now.  I'm  up  here 
for  the  air." 

"  Sure — sure,"  said  the  hotel  man.  "  I 
know  all  that.  Well,  if  you're  dead  set  it 
ain't  hardly  Christian  to  lure  you  into  bet- 
ting on  a  hoss  race,  I  suppose." 

He  munched  at  his  sandwich  in  savage 
silence,  while  Connor  looked  out  the 
window  and  began  to  whistle. 

"  They  race  very  often  up  here?"  he 
asked  carelessly. 

''  Once  in  a  while." 

"  A  pleasant  sport,"  sighed  Connor. 

"  Ain't  it,  now?"  argued  Townsend. 
"  But  these  gents  around  here  take  it  so 
serious  that  it  don't  last  long." 

"  That  so?" 

"  Yep.  They  bet  every  last  dollar  they 
can  rake  up,  and  about  the  second  or  third 
race  in  the  year  the  money's  all  pooled  in 
two  or  three  pockets.  Then  the  rest  go 
gunnin'  for  trouble,  and  most  generally  find 
a  plenty.  Any  six  races  that's  got  up 
around  here  is  good  for  three  shooting 
scrapes,  and  each  shooting's  equal  to  one 
corpse  and  half  a  dozen  put  away  for  re- 
pairs." He  touched  his  forehead,  marked 
with  a  white  line.  "  I  used  to  be  consider- 
able," he  said. 

"  H-m,"  murmured  Connor,  grown  ab- 
sentminded  again. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  went  on  the  other.  "I've 
seen  the  boys  come  in  from  the  mines  with 
enough  dust  to  choke  a  mule,  and  slap  it  all 
down  on  the  hoss.  I've  seen  twenty  thou- 
sand cold  bucks  lost  and  won  on  a  dinky 
little  pinto  that  wasn't  worth  twenty  dol- 
lars hardly.  That's  how  crazy  they  get." 

Connor  wiped  his  forehead. 


"  Where  do  they  race?"  he  asked. 

"  Right  down  Washington  Avenue.  That 
is  the  main  street,  y'  see.  Gives  'em  about 
half  a  mile  of  runnin'." 

A 'cigarette  appeared  with  magic  speed 
between  the  fingers  of  Connor,  and  he  be- 
gan to  smoke,  with  deep  inhalations,  ex- 
pelling his  breath  so  strongly  that  the  mist 
shot  almost  to  the  ceiling  before  it  flattened 
into  a  leisurely  spreading  cloud.  Town- 
send,  fascinated,  seemed  to  have  forgotten 
all  about  the  horse  race,  but  there  was  in 
Connor  a  suggestion  of  new  interest,  a  cer- 
tain businesslike  coldness. 

"  Suppose  we  step  over  and  give  the 
ponies  a  glance?"  he  queried. 

"  That's  the  talk!"  exclaimed  Townsend. 
"  And  I'll  take  any  tip  you  have! " 

This  made  Connor  look  at  his  host  nar- 
rowly, but,  dismissing  a  suspicion  from  his 
mind,  he  shrugged  his  shoulders,  and  they 
went  out  together. 

The  conclave  of  riders  and  the  betting 
public  had  gathered  at  the  farther  end  of 
the  street,  and  it  included  the  majority  of 
Lukin.  Only  the  center  of  the  street  was 
left  religiously  clear,  and  in  this  space,  half 
a  dozen  men  led  horses  up  and  down  with 
ostentatious  indifference,  stopping  often  to 
look  after  cinches  which  they  had  already 
tested  many  times.  As  Connor  came  up 
he  saw  a  group  of  boys  place  their  wagers 
with  a  stakeholder — knives,  watches,  nick- 
els and  dimes.  That  was  a  fair  token  of 
the  spirit  of  the  crowd.  Wherever  Connor 
looked  he  saw  hands  raised,  brandishing 
greenbacks,  and  for  every  raised  hand  there 
were  half  a  dozen  clamorous  voices. 

"  Quite  a  bit  of  sporting  blood  in  Lukin, 
eh?"  suggested  Townsend. 

"  Sure,"  sighed  Connor.  He  looked  at 
the  brandished  money.  "  A  field  of  wheat," 
he  murmured,  "  waiting  for  the  reaper. 
That's  me." 

He  turned  to  see  his  companion  pull  out 
a  fat  wallet. 

"  Which  one?"  gasped  Townsend.  "  We 
ain't  got  hardly  any  time." 

Connor  observed  him  with  a  smile  that 
tucked  up  the  corners  of  his  mouth. 

"  Wait  a  while,  friend.  Plenty  of  time 
to  get  stung  where  the  ponies  are  concerned. 
We'll  look  them  over." 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN. 


Townsend  began  to  chatter  in  his  ear: 
"  It's  between  Charlie  Haig's  roan  and 
Cliff  Jones's  Lightning—  You  see  that 
bay?  Man,  he  can  surely  get  across  the 
ground.  But  the  roan  ain't  so  bad.  Oh, 
no!" 

"  Sure  they  are." 

The  gambler  frowned.  "  I  was  about  to 
say  that  there  was  only  one  horse  in  the 
race,  but — "  He  shook  his  head  despair- 
ingly as  he  looked  over  the  riders.  He 
was  hunting  automatically  for  the  fleshless 
face  and  angular  body  of  a  jockey;  among 
them  all  Charlie  Haig  came  the  closest  to 
this  light  ideal.  He  was  a  sun-dried  fel- 
low, but  even  Charlie  must  have  weighed 
well  over  a  hundred  and  forty  pounds;  the 
others  made  no  pretensions  toward  small 
poundage,  and  Cliff  Jones  must  have  scaled 
two  hundred. 

"  Which  was  the  one  hoss  in  your  eyes?" 
asked  the  hotel  man  eagerly. 

"  The  gray.  But  with  that  weight  up 
the  little  fellow  will  be  anchored." 

He  pointed  to  a  gray  gelding  which  nosed 
confidently  at  the  back  hip  pockets  of  his 
master. 

"  Less  than  fifteen  hands,"  continued 
Connor,  "  and  a  hundred  and  eighty  pounds 
to  break  his  back.  It  isn't  a  race;  it's 
murder  to  enter  a  horse  handicapped  like 
that." 

"  The  gray?"  repeated  Jack  Townsend, 
and  he  glanced  from  the  corner  of  his  eyes 
at  his  companion,  as  though  he  suspected 
mocker}-.  '•  I  never  seen  the  gray  before," 
he  went  on.  "  Look  sort  of  underfed,  eh?" 

Connor  apparently  did  not  hear.  He 
had  raised  his  head  and  Wfe  nostrils  trem- 
bled, so  that  Townsend  did  not  know 
whether  the  queer  fellow  was  about  to 
break  into  laughter  or  a  trade. 

"  Yet,"  muttered  Connor,  "  he  might 
carry  it.  God,  what  a  horse! " 

He  still  looked  at  the  gelding,  and  Town- 
send  rubbed  his  eyes  and  stared  to  make 
sure  that  he  had  not  overlooked  some  pos- 
sibilities in  the  gelding.  But  he  saw  again 
only  a  lean-ribbed  pony  with  a  long  neck 
and  a  high  croup.  The  horse  wheeled, 
stepping  as  clumsily  as  a  gangling  year- 
ling. Townsend's  amazement  changed  to 
suspicion  and  then  to  indifference. 


"  Well,"  he  said,  smiling  covertly,  "  are 
you  going  to  bet  on  that?" 

Connor  made  no  answer.  He  stepped  up 
to  the  owner  of  the  gray,  a  swarthy  man 
whose  Indian  blood  told  in  the  discolored 
whites  of  his  eyes.  His  half  sleepy,  half 
sullen  expression  cleared  when  die  white 
man  shook  hands  and  introduced  himself  as 
a  lover  of  fast  horseflesh. 

He  even  congratulated  the  Indian  on 
owning  so  fine  a  specimen,  at  which  ap- 
parently subtle  mockery  Townsend,  in  the 
rear,  set  his  teeth  to  keep  from  smiling; 
and  the  half-breed  $lso  frowned,  to  see  if 
there  were  any  hidden  insult.  But  Con- 
nor had  stepped  back  and  was  looking  at 
the  forelegs  of  the  gelding. 

"  There's  bone   for  you,"   he   said   ex- 
ultantly.    "  More  than  eight  inches,  eh— 
that  Cannon?" 

"  Huh,"  grunted  the  owner,  "  I  dunno." 

But  his  last  shred  of  suspicion  disap- 
peared as  Connor,  working  his  fingers  along 
the  shoulder  muscles  of  the  animal,  smiled 
with  pleasure  and  admiration. 

"  My  name's  Bert  Sims,"  said  the  half- 
breed,  "  and  I'm  glad  to  know  you.  Most 
of  the  boys  in  Lukin  think  my  hoss  ain't 
got  a  chance  in  this  race." 

"  I  think  they're  right,"  answered  Con- 
nor without  hesitation. 

The  eyes  of  the  half-breed  flashed. 

"  I  think  you're  putting  fifty  pounds  too 
•much  weight  on  him,"  explained  Connor. 

"  Yeh?" 

"  Can't  another  man  ride  your  horse?" 

"  Anybody  can  ride  him." 

"Then  let  that  fellow  yonder— that 
youngster — have  the  mount.  I'll  back  the 
gray  to  the  bottom  of  my  pocket  if  you 
do." 

"  I  wouldn't  feel  hardly  natural  seeing 
another  man  on  him,"  said  the  Indian.  "  If 
he's  rode  I'll  do  the  riding.  I've  done  it 
for  fifteen  years." 

"  What?" 

"  Fifteen  years." 

"  Is  that  horse  fifteen  years  old?"  asked 
Connor,  prepared  to  smile. 

"  He  is  eighteen,"  answered  Bert  Sims 
quietly. 

The  gambler  cast  a  quick  glance  at  Sims 
and  a  longer  one  at  the  gray.  He  parted 


14 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 


the  lips  of  the  horse,  and  then  cursed 
softly. 

"  You're  right,"  said  Connor.  "  He  is 
eighteen." 

He  was  frowning  in  deadly  earnestness 
now. 

"  Accident,  I  suppose?" 

The  Indian  merely  stared  at  him. 

"  Is  the  horse  a  strain  of  blood  or  an 
accident?  What's  his  breed?" 

"  He's  an  Eden  gray." 

"  Are  there  more  like  him?" 

"  The  valley's  full  of  'em,  they  say," 
answered  Bert  Sims. 

"  What  valley?"  snapped  the  gambler. 

"  I  ain't  been  in  it.  If  I  was  I  wouldn't 
talk." 

"  Why  not?" 

In  reply  Sims  rolled  the  yello\v-stained 
whites  of  his  eyes  slowly  toward  his  inter- 
locutor. He  did  not  turn  his  head,  but  a 
smile  gradually  began  on  his  lips  and  spread 
to  a  sinister  hint  at  mirth.  It  put  a  grim 
end  to  the  conversation,  and  Connor  turned 
reluctantly  to  Townsend.  The  latter  was 
clamoring. 

"  They're  getting  ready  for  the  start. 
Are  you  betting  on  that  runt  of  a  gray?" 


CHAPTER   V. 

CONNOR    LOSES    A    BET. 

CONNOR  shook  his  head  almost  sadly. 
"  A  horse  that  stands  not  a  hair  more 
than  fourteen-three,  eighteen  years 
old,  with  a  hundred  and  eighty  pounds  up — • 
No,  I'm  not  a  fool." 

"  Which  is  it — the'  roan  or  the  bay?" 
gasped  Townsend.  "  Which  d'you  say? 
I'll  tell  you  about  the  valley  after  the  race. 
Which  hoss,  Mr.  Connor?"" 

Thus  appealed  to,  the  gambler  straight- 
ened and  clasped  his  hands  behind  his  back. 
He  looked  coldly  at  the  horses. 

"  How  old  is  that  brown  yonder — the  one 
the  boy  is  just  mounting?" 

"  Three,  But  what's  he  got  to  do  with 
the  race?" 

"  He's  a  shade  too  young,  or  he'd  win  it. 
That's  what  he  has  to  do  "with  it.  Back 
Haig's  horse,  then.  The  roan  is  the  best 
bet." 


"Have  you  had  a  good  look  at  Light- 
nin'?" 

"  He  won't  last  in  this  going  with  that 
weight  up." 

"  You're  right,"  panted  Townsend.  "  And 
I'm  going  to  risk  a  hundred  on  him.  Hey, 
Joe,  how  d'you  bet  on  Charlie  Haig?" 

"  Two  to  one." 

"  Take  you  for  a  hundred.  Joe,  meet 
Mr.  Connor." 

"  A  hundred  it  is,  Jack.  Can  I  do  any- 
thing for  you,  Mr.  Connor?" 

"  I'll  go  a  hundred  on  the  roan,  sir." 

"  Have  I  done  it  right?"  asked  Townsend 
fiercely,  a  little  later.  I  wonder  do  you 
know?" 

"  Ask  that  after  the  race  is  over,"  smiled 
Connor.  "  After  all,  you  have  only  one 
horse  to  be  afraid  of." 

"  Sure;  Lightnin' — but  he's  enough." 

"Not  Lightning,  I  tell 'you.  The  gray 
is  the  only  other  horse  to  be  afraid  of, 
though  the  brown  stallion  might  do  if  he 
has  enough  seasoning." 

For  a  moment  panic  brightened  the  eyes 
of  Townsend,  and  then  he  shook  the  fear 
away. 

"  I've  done  it  now,"  he  said  huskily, 
"  and  they's  no  use  talking.  Let's  get  down 
to  the  finish." 

The  crowd  was  streaming  away  from  the 
start,  and  headed  toward  the  finish  half  a 
mile  down  the  street  beyond  the  farther 
end  of  Lukin.  Most  of  this  distance  Town- 
send  kept  his  companion  close  to  a  run; 
then  he  suddenly  appealed  for  a  slower 
pace. 

"  It's  my  heart,"  he  explained.  "  Nothin' 
else  bothers  it?  but  during  a  hoss  race  it 
sure  stands  on  end.  I  get  to  thinkin'  of 
what  my  wife  will  say  if  I  lose;  and  that 
always  plumb  upsets  me." 

He  was,  in  fact,  spotted  white  and  pur- 
ple when  they  joined  the  mob  which  packed 
both  sides  of  the  street  at  the  finish  posts; 
already  the  choice  positions  were  taken'. 

"  We  won't  get  a  look,"  groaned  Town- 
send. 

But  Connor  chuckled:  "  You  tie  on  to 
me  and  we'll  get  to  the  front  in  a  squeeze." 
And  he  ejected  himself  into  the  mob.  How 
it  was  done  Townsend  could  never  under- 
stand. They  oozed  through  the  thickest 


THE    GARDEN'    OF    EDEN.  15 

of  the  crowd,  and  when  roughly  pressed  men  God,    you    do    know    bosses!      Who'd    of 

ahead  of   them   turned  around,   ready   to  thought  that  skinny  fellow  had  it  in  him?" 

fight,  Connor  was  always  looking  back,  ap-  "  He'll  die,"  said  Connor  calmly, 

parently  forced  along  by  the  pressure  from  The  bay  and  the  brown  went  back  into 

the  rear.    He  seemed,  indeed,  to  be  stnig-  the  pack  together,  even  as  Connor  spoke, 

gling  to  keep  his  footing,  but  in  a  few  min-  though  the  riders  were  flogging  hard,  and 

utes  Townsend  found  himself  in  the  front  now  the  roan  drew  to  the  front.     It  was 

rank.    He  mopped  his  brow  and  smiled  up  plain  to  see  that  he  had  the  foot  of  the 

into  the  cool  face  of  Connor,  but  there  was  rest,  for  he  came  away  from  the  crowd  with 

no  time  for  comments.    Eight  horses  fretted  every  leap. 

in  a  ragged  line  far  down  the  street,  and  "Look!     Look!     Look!"  moaned  Town- 

as  they  frisked  here  and  there  the  brims  of  send.    "  Two  for  one!    Look! "    He  choked 

the  sombreros  of  the  riders  flapped  up  and  with  pleasure  and  gripped  Connor's  ami  in 

down;  only  the  Eden  gray  stood  with  down-  both  his  hands  in  token  of  gratitude, 

ward  head,  dreaming.  Xow  the  race  bore  swiftly  down  the  fin- 

"  Xo  heart,"  said  Townsend,   ''  in  that  ish,  the  horses  looming  bigger;  their  eyes 

gray  boss.    Look  at  him!"  could  be  seen,  and  their  straining  nostrils 

"  Plenty  of  head,  though."  replied  Con-  now,  and  the  desperate  face  of  each  rider, 

nor;  "  here  they  go!"  trying  to  lift  his  horse  into  a  great  burst. 

His  voice  was  lost  in  a  yell  that  went  up  "  He's  got  it,"  sobbed  Townsend,  hysteri- 

wailing,  shook  into  a  roar,  and  then  died  cal.    "  Nothin'  can  catch  him  now." 

off,  as  though  a  gust  of  wind  had  cut  the  But  his  companion,  in  place  of  answer, 

sounds  away.     A  murmur  df  voices  fol-  stiffened  and  pointed.     His  voice  was  a 

lowed,  and  then  an  almost  womanish  yell,  tone  of  horror,  almost,  as  he  said:  "  I  knew, 

for  Lightning,  the  favorite,  was  out  in  front,  by  God,  I  knew-  all  the  time  and  wouldn't 

and  his  rider  leaned  in  the  saddle  with  arm  believe  my  eyes" 

suspended  and  a  quirt  which  never  fell.  For  far  from  the  left,  rounding  the  pack, 

The  rest  were  a  close  group  where  whips  came  a  streak  of  gray.    It  caught  the  brown 

worked  ceaselessly,  except  that  in  the  rear  horse  and  passed  him  in  two  leaps;  it  shot 

of  all   the  rest  the  little  gray  horse  ran  by  the  laboring  bay;  and  only  the  roan  of 

xwithout  urge,  smoothly,  as  if  his  rider  had  Charlie  Haig  remained  in  front.    That  rider, 

given  up  all  hope  of  winning  and  merely  al-  confident  of  victory,  had  slipped  his  quirt 

lowed  his  horse  to  canter  through.  over  his  wrist  and  was  hand-riding  his  horse 

"  D'you  see?"  screamed  Townsend.    "  Is  when  a  brief,  deep  yell  of  dismay  from  the 

that  what   you   know   about   bosses,    Mr.  crowd  made  him  jerk  a  glance  over  his 

Connor?     Look  at  Cliff  Jones's  Lightning!  shoulder.     He  cut  the  quirt  into  the  flank 

What  do  you — '  of  the  roan,   but  it   was  too  late.     Five 

He  cut  his  upbraidings  short,  for  Con-  lengths  from  the  finish  the  little  gray  shoved 
nor's  was  a  grisly  face,  white  about  the  his  nose  in  front;  and  from  that  point,  set- 
mouth  and  with  gathered  brows,  as  though,  tling  toward  the  earth,  as  he  stretched  into 
with  intense  effort,  he  strove  to  throw  the  a  longer  and  longer  stride,  every  jump  in- 
influence  of  his  will  into  that  mass  of  horse-  creased  his  margin.  The  nose  of  the  roan 
flesh.  The  hotel-keeper  turned  in  time  to  was  hardly  on  the  rump  of  the  gelding  at 
see  Lightning,  already  buckling  under  the  the  finish, 
strain,  throw  up  his  head.  A  bedlam  roar  came  from  the  crowd. 

The  heavy  burdens,  the  deep,  soft  going,  Townsend  was  cursing  and  beating  time 

and  the  fact  that  none  of  the  horses  were  to  his  oaths  with  a  fat  fist.     Townsend 

really  trained  to  sprint,  made  the  half-mile  found  so  many  companion  losers  that  his 

course  a  very  real  test,  and  now  the  big  feelings  were  readily  salved,  and  he  turned 

leader  perceptibly  weakened.     Out  of  the  to  Connor,  smiling  wryly. 

pack  shot  a  slender  brown  bod)-,  and  came  "  We  can't  win  every  day,"  he  declared, 

to  the  girth — to  the  neck  of  the  bay.  "but  I'll  tell  you  this,  partner:  of  all  the 

•'  The  stall  ion!  "shouted  Townsend.  "By  men  I  ever  seen,  you  get  the  medal  for 


16 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 


juclgin'  a  boss.     You  can  pick  my  string 
any  day."    , 

••  Eighteen  years  old,"  Connor  was  say- 
ing in  the  monotonous  tone  of  one  hypno- 
tized. 

"  Hey,  there,"  protested  Townsend,  per- 
ceiving that  he  was  on  the  verge  of  being 
ignored. 

"  A  hundred  and  eighty  pounds,"  sighed 
the  big  man. 

Townsend  saw  for  the  first  time  that  a 
stop-watch  was  in  the  hand  of  his  com- 
panion, and  now,  as  Connor  began  to  pace 
off  the  distance,  the  hotel  proprietor  tagged 
behind,  curious.  Twenty  steps  from  the 
starting  point  the  larger  man  stopped  ab- 
ruptly, shook  his  head,  and  then  went  on. 
When  he  came  to  the  start  he  paused  again, 
and  Townsend  found  him  staring  with  dull 
eyes  at  the  face  of  the  watch. 

"  What  'd  they  make  it  in?"  asked  the 
little  man. 

The  other  did  not  hear. 

"  They  ran  from  this  line?"  he  queried  in 
a  husky  voice. 

"  Sure.    Line  between  them  posts." 

"  Fifty-nine  seconds!"  he  kept  repeating. 
"Fifty-nine  seconds!  Fifty-nine!" 

"  What  about  the  fifty-nine  seconds?" 
asked  Townsend,  and  receiving  no  answer 
he  murmured  to  himself:  "  The  heat  has 
got  to  his  head." 

Connor  asked  quietly:  "  Know  anything 
about  these  gray  horses  and  where  they 
came  from?" 

"  Sure.  As  much  as  anybody.  Come 
from  yonder  in  the  mountains.  A  negro 
raises  'em." 

"  Negro?" 

"Yep,  a  deaf  mute.  Ain't  ever  been 
heard  to  say  a  word." 

"  And  he  raises  horses  like  that?" 

"  Sure." 

"  And  nobody's  been  up  there  to  try  to 
buy  'em?" 

"  Too  far  to  go,  you  see?  Long  ride  and 
a  hard  trail.  Besides,  they's  plenty  of 
good  hoss-flesh  right  around  Lukin,  here." 

"  Of  course,"  nodded  Connor  genially. 
"  Of  course  there  is." 

"  Besides,  them  grays  is  too  small.  Per- 
sonallv,  I  don't  hanker  after  a  runt  of  a 

tf  I 

boss.    I  look  like  a  fool  on  one  of  'em." 


The  voice  of  Connor  was  full  of  hearty 
agreement. 

"So  do  I.  Yes,  they're  small,  if  they're 
all  like  that  one.  Too  small.  Much  too 
small." 

He  looked  narrowly  at  Townsend  from 
the  corner  of  his  eyes  to  make  sure  that  the 
hotel  proprietor  suspected  nothing. 

"  This  negro  sells  some,  now  and  then?'' 

"  Yep.  He  conies  down  once  in  a  while 
and  sells  a  hoss  to  the  first  gent  he  meets — 
and  then  walks  back  to  the  garden.  Always 
geldings  that  he  sells,  I  understand.  Stand 
up  under  work  pretty  well,  those  little 
hosses.  Harry  Macklin  has  got  one.  Harry 
lives  at  Fort  Andrew.  There's  a  funny 
yarn  out  about  how  Harry — : 

"  What  price  does  the  negro  ask?" 

"Thinking  of  getting  one  of  'em?" 

"  Me?  Of  course  not!  What  do  I  want 
with  a  runt  of  a  horse  like  that?  But  I 
was  wondering  what  they  pay  around  here 
for  little  horses." 

"  I  dunno." 

"  What's  that  story  you  were  going  to 
tell  me  about  Harry  Macklin?'' 

"  You  see,  it  was  this  way — " 

And  he  poured  forth  the  stale  anecdote 
while  they  strolled  back  to  the  hotel.  Con- 
nor smiled  and  nodded  at  appropriate 
places,  but  his  absent  eyes  were  seeing,  once 
more,  the  low-running  form  of  the  little  gray 
gelding  coming  away  from  the  rest  of  the 
pack. 


w 


CHAPTER    VI. 

CONNOR   TALKS  LUCK. 

HEX  he  arrived  at  the  hotel  Ben 
Connor  found  the  following  tele- 
gram awaiting  him: 


Lady  Fay  in  with  ninety-eight  Trickster 
did  mile  and  furlong  in  one  fifty-four  with 
one  hundred  "twenty  Caledonian  stale  mile  in 
one  thirty-nine  Billy  Jones  looks  good  track 
fast. 

HARRY  SLOCX*M. 

That  message  blotted  all  other  thoughts 
from  the  mind  of  Connor.  From  his  travel- 
ing bag  he  brought  out  a  portfolio  full  of 
wrinkled  papers  and  pamphlets  crowded 
with  lists  of  names  and  figures;  there  fol- 

1    A 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEX. 


17 


lowed  a  time  of  close  work.  Page  after 
page  of  calculations  scribbled  with  a  soft 
pencil  and  in  a  large,  sprawling  hand,  were 
torn  from  a  pad,  fluttered  through  the  air 
and  lay  where  they  fell.  When  the  hour 
was  ended  he  pushed  away  the  pamphlets 
of  •'  dope  "  and  picked  up  his  notes.  After 
that  he  sat  in  deep  thought  and  drove 
puff  after  puff  of  cigarette-smoke  at  the 
ceiling. 

As  his  brown  study  progressed  he  began 
crumpling  the  slips  in  his  moist  fingers  until 
only  two  remained.  These  he  balanced  on 
his  finger-tips  as  though  their  weight  might 
speak  to  his  finely  attuned  nerves.  At 
length,  one  hand  closed  slowly  over  the 
paper  it" held  and  crushed  it  to  a  ball.  He 
flicked  this  away  with  his  thumb  and  rose. 
On  the  remaining  paper  was  written 
"  Trickster."  Connor  had  made  his  choice. 

That  done,  his  expression  softened  as  men 
relax  after  a  day  of  mental  strain  and  he 
loitered  down  the  stairs  and  into  the  street. 
Passing  through  the  lobby  he  heard  the 
voice  of  Jack  Townsend  raised  obviously  to 
attract  his  attention. 

"  There  he  goes  now.  And  nothing  but 
ihe  weight  kept  him  from  bettin'  on  the 
gray." 

Connor  heard  sounds,  not  words,  for  his 
mind  was  already  far  away  in  a  club  house, 
waiting  for  the  "  ponies  "  to  file  past.  On 
the  way  to  the  telegraph  office  he  saw 
neither  street  nor  building  nor  face,  until  he 
had  written  on  one  of  the- yellow  blanks, 
"  A  thousand  on  Trickster,"  and  addressed 
it  to  Harry  Slocum.  Not  until  he  shoved 
the  telegram  across  the  counter  did  he  see 
Ruth  Manning. 

She  was  half-turned  from  the  key,  but 
her  head  was  canted  toward  the  chattering 
sounder  with  a  blank,  inward  look. 

"  Do  you  hear?''  she  cried  happily. 
"  Bjornsen  is  back!" 

""Who?"  asked  Connor. 

"  Sveynrod  Bjornsen.  Lost  three  men 
out  of  eight,  but  he  got  within  a  hundred 
and  fifty  miles  of  the  pole.  Found  new 
land,  too." 

"Lucky  devil,  eh?" 

But  the  girl  frowned  at  him. 

•  Lucky,  nothing!    Bjornsen  is  a  fighter; 
he  lost  his  father  and  his  older  brother  up 

2  A 


fchere  three  years  ago  and  then  he  went 
back  to  make  up  for  their  deaths.    Luck?'' 

Connor,  wondering,  nodded.  u  Slipped 
my  mind,  that  story  of  Bjornsen.  Any 
other  news?" 

She  made  a  little  gesture,  palms  up,  as 
though  she  gathered  something  from  the  air. 

"  News?  The  old  wire  has  been  pouring 
it  at  me  all  morning.  Henry  Levateur  went 
up  thirty-two  thousand  feet  yesterday  and 
the  Admiral  Barr  was  launched." 

Connor  kept  fairly  abreast  of  the  times, 
but  now  he  was  at  sea. 

"  That's  the  new  liner,  isn't  it?" 

"  Thirty  thousand  tons  of  liner  at  that. 
She  took  the  water  like  a  duck.  Well,  that's 
the  stuff  for  Uncle  Sam  to  give  them;  a  few 
more  like  the  Admiral  Barr  and  we'll  have 
the  old  colors  in  every  port  that  calls  itself 
a  town.  Europe  will  have  to  wake  up." 

She  counted  the  telegram  with  a  sweep  of 
her  pencil  and  flipped  the  change  to  Connor 
out  of  the  coin-box.  The  rattle  of  the 
sounder  meant  new  things  to  Connor;  the 
edges  of  the  world  crowded  close,  for  when 
the  noise  stopped,  in  the  thick  silence  he 
watched  her  features  relax  and  the  light 
go  out  of  her  eyes.  It  enabled  him  to  glance 
into  her  life  in  Lukin,  with  only  the  chatter- 
ing wire  for  a  companion.  A  moment  be- 
fore she  had  been  radiant — now  she  was  a 
tired  girl  with  purple  shadows  beneath  her 
eyes  making  them  look  ghostly  large. 

"  Oh,  Bobby,"  she  called.  A  tall  youth 
came  out  of  ah  inner  room.  "  Take  the  key, 
please;  I'm  going  out  for  lunch.'' 

"  Come^to  the  hotel  with  me,"  suggested 
Connor. 

"  Lunch  at  Townsend's?"  She  laughed 
with  a  touch  of  excitement.  "  That's  a 
treat." 

Already  she  gained  color  and  her  eyes 
brightened.  She  was  like  a  motor,  Connor 
decided,  nothing  in  itself,  but  responding  to 
every  electric  current. 

"  This  lunch  is  on  me,  by  the  way,"  she 
added. 

'•  Why  is  that?" 

"  Because  I  like  to  pay  on  my  winning 
days.  I  cashed  in  on  the  Indian's  horse 
this  morning." 

In  Connor's  own  parlance — it  brought 
him  up  standing. 


18  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

"  You  bet  on  it?    You  know  horse-flesh,  deal  of  money  to  her;  and  she  flushed  as 

then.    I  like  the  little  fellow,  but  the  weight  she  answered: 

stopped  me."  "I  got  down  a  bet  with  Jud  Alison;  it 

He  smiled  at  her  with  a  new  friendliness,  was  only  five  dollars,  but  I  had  odds  of  ten 

"  Don't  pin  any  flowers  on  me,"  she  an-  to  one.     Fifty  dollars  looks  pretty  big  to 

swered.    "  Oh,  I  know  enough  about  horses  me,"  she  added,  and  he  liked  her  frankness, 

to  look  at  their  hocks  and  see  how  they  "But  does  everybody  know  about  these 

stand;  and  I  don't  suppose  I'd  buy  in  on  grays?" 

a  pony  that  points  the  toe  of  a  fore-foot—  "  Not  so  many.     They  only  come  from 

but  I'm  no  judge.    I  bet  on  the  gray  be-  one  outfit,  you  see.    Dad  knew  horses,  and 

cause  I  know  the  blood."  he  told  me  an  Eden  Gray  was  worth  any 

She  had  stopped  at  the  door  of  the  hotel  man's  money.    Poor  dad!" 

and  she  did  not  see  the  change  in  Connor V  Connor  watched  her  eyes  turn  dark  and 

face  as  they  entered.  dull,  but  he  tossed  sympathy   aside   and 

"  Queer  thing  about  horses,"  she  con-  stepped  forward  in  the  business, 

tinued.    "  They  show  their  strain,  though  "  I've  been  interested  since  I  saw  that 

the  finest  man  that  ever  stepped  might  have  little  streak  of  gray  shoot  over  the  finish. 

a  son  that's  a  quitter.    Not  that  way  with  Eighteen  years  old.    Did  you  know  that? 

horses.    Why,  any  scrubby  pinto  that  has  a  "  Really?   Well,  dad  said  an  Eden  Gray 

drop  of  Eden  Gray  blood  in  him  will  run  was  good  to  twenty-five." 

till  his  heart  breaks.    You  can  bet  on  that."  "  What  else  did  he  say?" 

Lunch  at  Townsend's,  Connor  saw,  must  "  He   didn't  know   a  great  deal  about 

be  the  fashionable  thing  in  Lukin.     The  them,  after  all,  but  he  said  that  now  and 

"  masses  "  of  those  who  came  to  town  for  then  a  deaf  and  dumb  negro  comes.    He's 

the  day  ate  at  the  lunch-counters  in  the  old  a  regular  giant  and  he  has  the  face  of  a 

saloons  while  the  select  went  to  the  hotel,  beast.    Whenever  he  meets  a  man  he  gets 

Mrs.  Townsend,  billowing  about  the  room  off  the  horse  and  puts  a  paper  into  the  hand 

in  a  dress  of  blue  with  white  polka-dots,  of  the  other.    On  the  paper  it  says:  "  Fifty 

when  she  was  not  making  hurried  trips  into  dollars  in  gold  coin!    Always  that." 

the  kitchen,  cast  one  glance  of  approval  It  was  like  a  fairy  tale  to  Connor, 

at  Ben  Connor  and  another  of  surprise  at  "  Jude  Harper  of  Collinsville  met  him 

the  girl.     Other  glances  followed,  for  the  once.    He  had  only  ten  dollars  in  gold,  but 

room  was  fairly  well  filled,  and  a  whisper  he  had  three  hundred  in  paper.    He  offered 

went  trailing  about  them,  before  and  be-  the  whole  three  hundred  and  ten  to  the 

hind.  negro,  but  the  negro  only  shook  his  head." 

It  was  easy  to  see  that  Ruth  Manning  "  How  often  does  he  come  out  of  the 

was    being    accused    of    "  scraping "    ac-  valley?" 

quaintance  with  the  stranger,  but  she  bore  "  Once  a  year — once  in  two  years — no- 

up  beautifully,   and   Connor  gauging  her  body    knows    how    often.      Of    course    it 

with  an  accurate  eye,  admired  and  wondered  doesn't  take  him  long  to  find  a  man  who'll 

where  she  had  learned.     Yet  when  they  buy  a  horse  like  one  of  the  grays  for  fifty 

found  a  table  and  he  drew  out  a  chair  for  dollars.     The  minute  the  horse  is  sold  he 

her,  he  could  tell  from  the  manner  in  which  turns    around    and    starts    walking    back, 

she  lowered  herself  into  it  that  she  was  not  Pete  Ricks  tried  to  follow  him.    He  turned 

used  to  being  seated.     That  observation  back  on  Pete,  jumped  on  him  from  behind 

gave  him  a  feeling  of  power  over  her.  a  rock,  and  jerked  him  off  his  horse.    Then 

"  You  liked  the  gray,  too?"  she  was  say-  he  got  him  by  the  hair  and  bent  his  head 

ing,  as  he  took  his  place.  back.     Pete  says  he  expected  to  have  his 

"  I  lost  a  hundred  betting  against  him,"  neck  broken — he  was  like  a  child  in  the 

said  the  gambler  quietly.     "  I  hope  you  arms  of  that  giant.    But  it  seemed  that  the 

made  a  killing."  negro  was  only  telling  him  in  deaf-and- 

He  saw  by  the  slight  widening  of  her  dumb  talk  that  he  mustn't  follow.    After 

eyes  that  a  hundred  dollars  was  a .  good  he'd  frightened  the  life  out  of  Pete  the  big 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


19 


black   went   away   again,    and   Pete   came 
home  as  fast  as  his  horse  could  carry  him." 

Connor  swallowed.  "  Where  do  they  get 
the  name  Eden  Gray?" 

"  I  don't  know.  Dad  said  that  three 
things  were  true  about  every  gray.  It's  al- 
ways a  gelding;  it's  always  one  price,  and 
it  always  has  a  flaw.  I  looked  the  one  over 
that  ran  to-day  and  couldn't  see  anything 
wrong,  though." 

-  Cow-hocked,"  said  Connor,  breathing 
hard.  "Goon!" 

"  Dad  made  up  his  mind  that  the  reason 
they  didn't  sell  more  horses  was  because 
the  owner  only  sold  to  weed  out  his 
stock." 

"  Wait."  said  Connor,  tapping  on  the 
table  to  make  his  point.  "  Do  I  gather 
that  the  only  Eden  Grays  that  are  sold  are 
the  poorest  of  the  lot?" 

"  That  was  dad's  idea." 

"  Go  on,"  said  Connor. 
Vou're  excited?" 

But  he  answered  quickly:  "  Well,  one  of 
those  grays  beat  me  out  of  a  hundred  dol- 
lars. I  can't  help  being  interested." 

He  detached  his  watch-charm  from  its 
catch  and  began  to  finger  it  carelessly;  it 
was  the  head  of  an  ape  carved  in  ivory 
yellowed  with  age. 

The  girl  watched,  fascinated,  but  she 
made  no  mention  of  it,  for  the  jaw  of  the 
gambler  was  set  in  a  hard  line,  and  she  felt, 
subconsciously,  a  widening  distance  be- 
tween them. 

"  Does  the  deaf  negro  own  the  horses? " 
he  was  asking. 
I  suppose  so." 

"  This  sounds  like  a  regular  catechism, 
doesn't  ii: 

"  I  don't  mind.  Come  to  think  of  it, 
everything  about  the  grays  is  queer.  Well. 
I've  never  seen  this  negro,  but  do  you  know 
what  I  think?  That  he  lives  off  there  in  the 
mountains  by  himself  because  he's  a  sort  of 
religious  fanatic." 

Religion?    Crazy,  maybe." 
laybe." 

"What's  his  religion  ?"- 

il  I   don't  know,"   said   the  girl   coldly. 

\fter  you  jerk  lightning  for  a  while  you 
aren't  interested  much  in  religion." 

He  nodded,  not  quite  sure  of  her  posi- 


tion, but  now  her  face  darkened  and  she 
went  on,  gathering  interest  in  the  subject. 

"  Oh,  I've  heard  'em  rave  about  the  God 
that  made  the  earth  and  the  stars  and  all 
that  stuff;  the  mountains,  too.  I've  heard 
'em  die  asking  for  mercy  and  praising  God. 
That's  the  way  dad  went.  It  was  drink 
that  got  him.  But  I'm  for  facts  only.  Far 
as  I  can  see,  when  people  come  up  against 
a  thing  they  can't  understand  they  just 
close  their  eyes  and  say,  God!  And  when 
they're  due  to  die,  sometimes  they're  afraid 
and  they  say,  God — because  they  think 
they're  going  out  like  a  snuffed  lantern  and 
never  will  be  lighted  again." 

The  gambler  sat  with  his  chin  buried  in 
his  palm,  and  from  beneath  a  heavy  frown 
he  studied  the  girl. 

"  I  don't  hold  malice  more  than  the  next 
one,"  said  the  girl,  but  I  saw  daddie;  and 
I've  been  sick  of  religion  ever  since.  Be- 
sides, how  do  you  explain  the  rotten  things 
that  happen  in  the  world?  Look  at  yester- 
day! The  King  of  the  Sea  goes  down  with 
all  on  board.  Were  they  all  crooks?  Were 
they  all  ready  to  die?  They  can  tell  me 
about  God,  but  I  say,  '  Give  me  the 
proofs! ' 

She  looked  at  Connor  defiantly.  "  There's 
just  one  thing  I  believe  in,"  she  said, 
"  that's  luck!" 

He  did  not  stir,  but  still  studied  her,  and 
she  flushed  under  the  scrutiny. 

"  Not  that  I've  had  enough  luck  to  make 
me  fond  of  it.  I've  been  stuck  up  here  on 
the  edge  of  the  world  all  my  life.  And  how 
I've  wanted  to  get  away!  How  I've  wanted 
it!  I've  begged  for  a  chance — to  cut  out 
the  work.  If  it  doesn't  make  callouses  on 
a  girl's  hands  it  will  make  them  on  her 
heart.  I've  been  waiting  all  my  life  for  a 
chance,  and  the  chance  has  never  come." 
Something  flared  in  her. 

"  Sometimes  I  think,"  she  whispered, 
"  that  I  can't  stand  it!  That  I'd  do  any- 

w 

thing!    Anything — just  to  get  away." 
She  stopped,  and  as  her  passion  ebbed 

she  was  afraid  she  had  said  too  much. 
"  Shake,"  he  said,   stretching  his  hand 

across  the  table,  ''I'm  with  you.     Luck! 

That's  all  there  is  running  things! " 

His  fingers  closed  hard  over  hers  and  she 

winced,  for  he  had  forgotten  to  remove  the 


20 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


ivory  image  from  his  hand,  and  the  ape- 
head  cut  into  her  flesh. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

THE   TRAIL   TO   EDEN. 

THAT  evening  Ruth  sent  a  boy  over  to 
the  hotel  with  a  telegram  for  Con- 
nor.   It  announced  that  Trickster,  at 
six  to  one,  came  home  a  winner  in  the  Mur- 
ray.   But  Conner  had  time  for  only  a  grunt 
and  a  nod;  he  was  too  busy  composing  a 
letter  to  Harry  Slocum,  which  read  as  fol- 
lows: 

DEAR  HARRY: 

I'm  about  to  put  my  head  in  the  lion's 
mouth;  and  in  case  you  don't  hear  from  me 
again,  say  within  three  months,  this  is  to  ask 
you  to  look  for  my  bones.  I'm  starting  out 
to  nail  a  thousand-to-one  shot.  Working  a 
hunch  for  the  biggest  clean-up  v/e  ever  made. 
I'm  going  into  the  motmtains  to  find  a  deaf 
mute  negro  who  raises  the  finest  horses  I've 
ever  seen.  Do  you  get  that?  No  white  man 
has  gone  into  that  valley;  at  least,  no-  one 
has  come  out  talking.  But  I'm  going  to  bring 
something  with  me.  If  I  don't  come  out  it  '11 
be  because  I've  been  knocked  on  the  head  in- 
side the  valley.  I'm  not  telling  any  one 
around  here  where  I'm  bound,  but  I've  made 
inquiries,  and  this  is  what  I  gather:  No  one  is 
interested  in  the  negro's  valley  simply  because 
it's  so  far  away.  The  negro  doesn't  bother 
them  and  they  won't  bother  him.  That's 
the  main  reason  for  letting  him  alone.  The 
other  reasons  are  that  he's  suspected  of  being 
a  bad  actor. 

But  the  distance  is  the  chief  thing  that 
fences  people  away.  The  straight  cut  is  bad 
going.  The  better  way  around  is  a  slow 
journey.  It  leads  west  out  of  Lukin  and 
down  into  the  valley  of  the  Girard  River; 
then  along  the  Girard  to  its  headwaters.  Then 
through  the  mountains  again  to  the  only  en- 
trance to  the  valley.  I'm  telling  you  all  this 
so  that  you'll  know  what  you  may  have  , 
ahead  of  you.  If  I'm  mum  ior  three  months 
come  straight  for  Lukin;  go  to  a  telegraph 
operator  named  Ruth  Manning,  and  tell  her 
that  you've  come  to  get  track  of  me.  She'll 
give  you  the  names  of  the  best  dozen  men 
in  Lukin,  and  you  start  for  the  valley  with 
the  posse. 

Around  Lukin  they  have  a  sort  of  foggy 
fear  of  the  valley  bad  medicine,  they  call  it. 

I  have  a  hard  game  ahead  of  me  and  I'm 
going  to  stack  the  cards.  I've  got  to  get 
into  the  Garden  by  a  trick  and  get  out  again 
the  same  wav.  I  start  this  afternoon. 


I've  got  a  horse  and  a  pack  mule,  and  I'm 
going  to  try  my  hand  at  camping  out.  If  I 
come  back  it  will  be  on  something  that  will 
carry  both  the  pack  and  me,  I  think,  and  it 
won't  take  long  to  make  the  trip.  Our  days 
of  being  rich  for  ten  days  and  poor  for  thirty 
will  be  over. 

Hold  yourself  ready;  sharp  at  the  end  of 
ninety  days,  come  West  if  I'm  still  silent. 

As  ever, 

BEX. 

Before  the  mail  took  that  letter  East- 
ward, Ben  Connor  received  his  final  advice 
from  Jack  Townsend.  It  was  under  the 
hotel  man's  supervision  that  he  selected 
his  outfit  of  soft  felt  hat,  flannel  shirts, 
heavy  socks,  and  Napatan  boots;  Towns- 
end,  too,  went  with  him  to  pick  out  the 
pack  mule  and  all  the  elements  of  the  pack, 
from  salt  to  canned  tomatoes. 

As  for  the  horse,  Townsend  merely  stood 
by  to  admire  while  Ben  Connor  went 
through  a  dozen  possibilities  and  picked  a 
solidly  built  chestnut  with  legs  enough  for 
speed  in  a  pinch,  and  a  flexible  fetlock — 
joints  that  promised  an  easy  gait. 

"You  won't  have  no  trouble,"  said 
Townsend,  as  Connor  sat  the  saddle,  work- 
ing the  stirrups  back  and  forth  and  frown- 
ing at  the  creaking  new  leather.  "  Wher- 
ever you  go  you'll  find  gents  ready  to  give 
you  a  hand  on  your  way." 

"  Why's  that?  Don't  I  look  like  an  old 
hand  at  this  game?" 

"  Not  with  that  complexion;  it  talks  city 
a  mile  off.  If  you'd  tell  me  where  you're 
bound  for — " 

"  But  I'm  not  bound  anywhere,"  an- 
swered Connor.  "I'm  out  to  follow  my 
nose." 

"  With  that  gun  you  ought  to  get  some 
game." 

Connor  laid  his  hand  on  the  butt  of  the 
rifle  which  was  slung  in  a  case  iinder  his 
leg.  He  had  little  experience  with  a  gun, 
but  he  said  nothing. 

"  All  trim,"  continued  Townsend,  step- 
ping back  to  look.  "  Not  a  flaw  in  the 
mule;  no  sign  of  ringbone  or  spavin',  and 
when  a  mule  ain't  got  them,  he's  got  noth- 
in'  wrong.  Don't  treat  him  too  well. 
When  you  feet  like  pattin'  him,  cuss  him 
instead.  It's  mule  nature  to  like  a  beatin' 
once  in  a  while;  they  spoil  without  it.  like 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN.  21 

kids.     He'll  hang  back  for  two  days,  but  filled  his  canteens  and  struck  into  the  last 

the  third  day  he'll  walk  all  over  your  hoss;  stage  of  his  journey, 
never  was  a  hoss  that  could  walk  with  a        Luck  gave  him  cool  weather,  with  high 

mule  on  a  long  trip.    Well,  Mr.  Connor,  I  moving   clouds,   which   curtained   the   sun 

guess  you're  all  fixed,  but  I'd  like  to  send  during  the  middle  of  the  day,  but  even  then 

a  boy  along  to  see  you  get  started  right."  it  was  hard  work.    He  had  not  the  vestige 

"  Don't  worry,"  smiled  Connor.     "  I've  of  a  trail  to  follow;    the  mountain  sides 

written  down  all  your  suggestions."  were  bare  jock.     A  scattering  of  shrubs 

"  Here's  what  you  want  to  tie  on  to  spe-  and  dwarfed  trees  found  rooting  in  crev- 
cial,"  said  the  fat  man.  "  Don't  move  your  ices,  but  on  the  whole  Connor  was  journey- 
camp  on  Fridays  or  the  thirteenth;  if  you  ing  through  a  sea  of  stone,  and  sometimes, 
come  nigh  a  town  and  a  black  cat  crosses  when  the  sun  glinted  on  smooth  surface, 
your  trail,  you  camp  right  here  and  don't  the  reflection  blinded  him.  By  noon  the 
move  on  to  that  town  till  the  next  morn-  chestnut  was  hobbling,  and  before  night- 
ing.  And  wait  a  minute — if  you  start  out  fall  even  the  mule  showed  signs  of  distress, 
and  find  you've  left  something  in  camp,  And  though  Connor  traveled  now  by  corn- 
make  a  cross  in  the  trail  before  you  go  pass,  he  was  haunted  by  a  continual  fear 
back."  that  he  might  have  mistaken  his  way,  or 

He  frowned  to  collect  his  thoughts.  that  the  directions  he  had  picked  up  at 

11  Well,  if  you  don't  do  none  of  them  Lukin  might  be  entirely  wrong.     Evening 

three  things,  you  can't  come  out  far  wrong,  was   already   coming  over   the  mountains 

Slong,  and  good  luck,  Mr.  Connor."  \vhen  he  rounded  a  slope  of  black  rock  and 

Connor   waved   his   hand,    touched   the  found  below  him  a  picture  that  tallied  in 

chestnut  with  his  heel  and  the  horse  broke  every  detail  with  all  he  had  heard  of  the 

into  a  trot,  while  the  rope,  coming  taut,  first  valley. 

stretched  the  neck  of  the  mule  and  then        The  first  look  was  like  a  glance  into  a 

tugged  him  into  a  dragging  amble.    In  this  deep  well  of  stone  with  a  flash  of  water  in 

manner  Connor  went  out  of  Lukin.     He  the  bottom;  afterward  he  sat  on  a  bowlder 

smiled  to  himself,  as  he  thought  confidently  and  arranged  the  details  of  that  big  vista, 

of  the  far  different  fashion  in  which  he  Nothing  led  up  to  the  Garden  from  any  di- 

would  return.  rection;   it  was  a  freak  of  nature.     Some 

The  first  day  gave  Connor  a  raw  nose,  a  convulsion  of  the  earth,  wrhen  these  moun- 

sunburned  neck  and  wrists,  and  his  supper  tains  were  first  rising,  perhaps,  had  split 

was  charred  bacon  and  tasteless  coffee;  but  the  rocks,  or  as  the  surface  strata  rolled  up, 

the  next  morning  he  came  out  of  the  choppy  they  parted  over  the  central  lift  and  left 

mountains  and  went  down  a  long,  easy  slope  this  ragged  fissure.     Through  the  valley 

into  the  valley  of  the  Girard.  There  was  ran  a  river,  but  water  could  never  have  cut 

always  water  here,  and  fine  grass  for  the  those  saw-tooth  cliffs;   and  Connor  noted 

horse  and  mule,  with  a  cool  wind  off  the  this  strange  thing:  that  the  valley  came  to 

snows  coming  down  the  ravine.     By  the  abrupt  ends  both  north  and  south.    By  the 

third  day  he  was  broken  into  the  routine  slant  sunlight,  and  at  that  distance — for  he 

of  his  work  and  knew  the  most  vulnerable  judged  the  place  to  be  some  ten  or  fifteen 

spot  on  the  ribs  of  the  mule,  and  had  a  pet  miles  in  length — it  seemed  as  if  the  cliff 

name  for  the  chestnut.  Thereafter  the  camp-  fronts  to  the  north  and  south  were  as  solid 

ing  trip  was  pleasant  enough.    It  took  him  and  lofty  as  a  portion  of  the  sides;  yet  this 

longer  than  he  had  expected,  for  he  would  could  mot  be  unless  the  river  actually  dis- 

not  press  the  horse  as  the  pitch  of  the  ra-  appeared  under  the  face  of  the  wall.    Still, 

vine  grew  steeper ;  later  he  saw  his  wisdom  he  could  not  make  out  details  from  the  dis- 

in  keeping  the  chestnut  fresh  for  the  final  tance,  only  the  main  outline  of  the  place, 

burst,  for  when  he  reached  the  head-spring  the  sheen  of  growing  things,  whether  trees 

of  the  Girard,  he  faced  a  confusion  of  diffi-  or  grass,  and  the  glitter  of  the  river  which 

cult,  naked  mountains.     He  was  daunted  swelled  toward  the  center  of  the  valley  into 

but  determined,  and  the  next  morning  he  a  lake.    He  could  discover  only  one  natu- 


22 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


ral  entrance;  in  the  nearest  cliff  wall  ap- 
peared a  deep,  narrow  cleft,  which  ran  to 
the  very  floor  of  the  valley,  and  the  only 
approach  was  through  a  difficult  ravine. 
The  sore-footed  chestnut  had  caught  the 
flash  of  green,  and  now  he  pricked  his  ears 
and  whinnied  as  if  he  saw  home.  Connor 
started  down  the  rocks  toward  the  en- 
trance, leading  the  horse,  while  the  mule 
trailed  wearily  behind.  As  he  turned,  the 
wind  blew  to  him  out  of  the  valley  a  faint 
rhythmical  chiming.  When  he  paused  to 
listen  the  sound  disappeared. 

He  dipped  out  of  the  brighter  level  into 
a  premature  night  below;  evening  was 
gathering  quickly,  and  with  each  step  Con- 
nor felt  the  misty  darkness  closing  above 
his  head.  He  was  stumbling  over  the  bowl- 
ders, downheaded,  hardly  able  to  see  the 
ground  at  his  feet,  yet  when  he  reached  the 
bottom  of  the  little  ravine  which  ran  to- 
ward the  entrance,  he  looked  up  to  a  red 
sky,  and  the  higher  mountains  rolled  off  in 
waves  of  light.  Distances  were  magnified; 
he  seemed  to  look  from  the  bottom  of  the 
world  to  the  top  of  it;  he  turned,  a  little 
dizzy,  and  between  the  edges  of  the  cleft 
that  rose  straight  as  Doric  pillars,  he  saw 
a  fire  burning  at  the  entrance  to  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden.  The  sunset  was  above  them, 
but  the  fire  sent  a  long  ray  through  the 
night  of  the  lower  valley.  Connor  pointed 
it  out  to  his  horse,  and  the  little  cavalcade 
went  slowly  forward. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

JACOB  AND  EPHRAIM. 

WITH  every  step  that  he  took  into 
the  darkness  the  feeling  of  awe 
deepened  upon  Connor,  until  he 
went  frowning  toward  the  fire  as  though  it 
were  an  eye  that  watched  his  coming.  He 
was  quite  close  when  the  chestnut  threw 
up  its  head  w-ith  a  snort  and  stopped,  lis- 
tening; Connor  listened  as  well,  and  he 
heard  a  music  of  men's  voices  singing  to- 
gether, faint  with  distance;  the  sound  trav- 
eled so  far  that  he  caught  the  pulse  of  the 
rhythm  and  the  fiber  of  the  voices  rather 
than  the  tune  itself,  yet  the  awe  which  had 
been  growing  in  Connor  gathered  suddenly 


in  his  throat.  He  had  to  close  his  hands 
hard  to  keep  from  being  afraid. 

As  though  the  chestnut  felt  the  strange- 
ness also,  he  neighed  suddenly;  the  rock 
walls  of  the  ravine  caught  up  the  sound 
and  trumpeted  it  back.  Connor,  recover- 
ing from  the  shock,  buried  his  fingers  in 
the  nostrils  of  the  horse  and  choked  the 
sound  away;  but  the  echo  still  went  faintly 
before  them  and  behind.  The  alarm  had 
been  given.  The  fire  winked  once  and 
went  out.  Connor  was  left  without  a  light 
to  guide  him;  he  looked  up  and  saw  that 
the  sunset  flush  had  fallen  away  to  a  dead 
gray. 

He  looked  ahead  to  where  the  fire  had 
been.  Just  then  the  horse  jerked  his  nose 
away  and  gasped  in  a  new  breath.  Even 
that  slight  sound  flurried  Connor,  for  it 
might  guide  the  unknown  danger  to  him. 
Connor  remembered  that  after  all  he  was 
not  a  bandit  stealing  upon  a  peaceful  town; 
he  composed  his  mind  and  his  nerves  with 
an  effort,  and  was  about  to  step  forward 
again  when  he  saw7  in  the  night  just  before 
him  a  deeper  shade  among  the  shadows. 
Peering,  he  discovered  the  dim  outlines  of 
a  man. 

Ben  Connor  was  not  a  coward,  but  he 
was  daunted  by  this  apparition.  His  first 
impulse  was  to  flee;  his  second  was  to  leap 
at  the  other's  throat.  It  spoke  much  for 
his  steadiness  in  a  crisis  that  he  did  neither, 
but  called  instead:  "  Who's  there?" 

Metal  gritted  on  metal,  and  a  shaft  of 
light  poured  into  Connor's  face  so  unex- 
pectedly that  he  shrank.  The  chestnut 
roared,  and  turning  to  control  the  horse, 
Connor  saw  his  eyes  and  the  eyes  of  the 
mule  shining  like  phosphorus.  When  he 
had  quieted  the  gelding  he  saw  that  it  was 
a  hooded  lantern  which  had  been  uncov- 
ered. Not  a  ray  fell  on  the  bearer  of  the 
light. 

"  I  saw  a  light  down  here,"  said  Connor, 
after  he  had  tried  in  vain  to  make  out  the 
features  of  the  other.  "  It  looked  like  a 
fire,  and  I  started  for  it;  I've  lost  my  bear- 
ing in  these  mountains." 

Without  answering,  the  bearer  of  the 
lantern  kept  the  shaft  staring  into  Connor's 
face  for  another  moment;  then  it  was  as 
suddenly  hooded  and  welcome  darkness 


THE    GARDEN    OP    EDEX.  23 

covered    the    gambler.      With    a    gesture  he  felt  should  be  his,  but  he  determined  to 

which  he  barely  could  make  out,  the  silent  appear  at  ease. 

man  waved  him  forward  down  the  ravine.  1V  Your  best  way,"  continued  Ephraim, 

It    angered    Connor,    this    mummery    of  "  is  toward  that  largest  mountain.     You 

speechlessness,  but  with  his  anger  was  an  see  where  its  top  is  still  lighted  in  the 

odd  feeling  of  helplessness  as  though  the  west,  while  the  rest  of  the  range  is  black." 

other  had  a  loaded  gun  at  his  head.  The  persistent  good  grammer  irritated 

The  man   walked  behind  him  as  they  Connor,  and  examining  the  withered  fea- 

went  forward,  and  presently  the  fire  shone  tures  of  the  two  old  men  more  closely,  he 

out  at  them  from  the  entrance  to  the  val-  saw  that  they  were  negroes  in  color  alone, 

ley;   thus  Connor  saw  the  blanket  which  ''  Jacob  can  take  you  up  from  the  ravine 

had  screened  the  fire  removed,  and  caught  and  show  you  the  beginning  of  the  way. 

a  glimpse  of  a  second  form.  But  do  not  pass  beyond  the  sight  of  the 

Even  the  zenith  was  dark  now,  and  it  fire,  Jacob." 

was  double  night  in  the  ravine.    With  the  "  Good  advice,"  nodded  Connor,  forcing 

chestnut    stumbling    behind   him,    Connor  himself  to  smile,  %i  if  it  weren't  that  my 

entered   the    circle   of    the   fire   and   was  horse  is  too  sore-footed  to  carry  me.    Even 

stopped  by  the  raised  hand  of  the  second  the  mule  can  hardly  walk — you  see." 

man.  He  waved  his  hand  and  the  chestnut 

••  Why  are  you  here?"  said  the  guard.  threw  up  its  head  and  took  one  or  two  halt- 

.  The  voice  was  thin,  but  the  articulation  ing  steps  to  the  side, 

thick    and    soft,    and    as    the    questioner  "  In  the  meantime,  I  suppose  you've  no 

stepped  into  the  full  glow  of  the  fire,  Con-  objection  if  I  sit  down  here  for  a  moment 

nor  saw  a  negro  whose  head  was  covered  or  two?" 

by   white    curls.      He    was   very    old;    it  Ephraim,  bowing  as  though  he  ushered 

seemed  as  though  time  had  faded  his  black  the  other  into  an  apartment  of  state,  waved 

pigment,  and  now  his  skin,  a  dark  bronze,  to  a  smooth-topped  bowlder  comfortably 

was  puckered  at  the  corners  of  his  mouth,  near  the  fire. 

about  his  eyes,  and  in  the  center  of  his  "  I  wish  to  serve  you,"  he  went  on,  "  in 

forehead,  seeming  to  have  dried  in  wrin-  anything  I  can  do  without  leaving  the  val- 

kles  like  parchment.    While  he  talked  his  ley.    We  have  a  tank  just  inside  the  gate, 

expression   never   varied   from   the   weary  and  Jacob  will  fill  your  canteen  and  water 

frown;  yet"  years  had  ,not  bowed  him,  for  the  horse  and  mule  as  well." 

he  stood  straight  as  a  youth,  and  though  "  Kind  of  you,"  said  Connor.     i-  Ciga- 

his  neck  was  dried  away  until  it  was  no  rette?" 

thicker  than  a  strong  man's  forearm,  he  The  proffered  smoke  brought  a  wringling 

kept  his  head  high  and  looked  at  Connor,  of  amazed  delight  into  the  face  of  Ephraim 

The  man  who  had  gone  out  to  stop  Con-  and  his  withered  hand  stretched  tentative- 

nor  now  answered  for  him,  and  turning  to  ly  forth.    Jacob  forestalled  him  with  a  cry 

the  voice  the  gambler  saw  that  this  fellow  and  snatched  the  cigarette  from  the  open 

was  a  negro  likewise;  as  erect  as  the  one  palm  of  Connor.     He  held  it  in  both  his 

by  the  fire,  but  hardly  less  ancient.  cupped  hands. 

"  He  is  lost  in  the  mountains,  and  he  saw  ''  Tobacco — again' "    He  turned'to  Eph- 

the  fire  at  the  gate,  Ephraim."  raim.     ".I  have  not  forgotten 

Ephraim  considered  Connor  wistfully.  Ephraim  had  folded  his  arms  with  dig- 

'  This  way  is  closed,"  he  said;    ki  you  nity,  and  now  he  turned  a  reproving  glance 

cannot  pass  through  the  gate."  upon  his  companion. 

The  gambler  looked  up;  a  wall  of  rock  "  Is  it  permitted?"  he  asked  coldly, 

on  either  side  rose  so  high  that  the  fire-  The  joy  went  out  of  the  face  of  Jacob, 

light  failed  to  carry  all  the  distance,  and  "  What  harm?" 

the   darkness    arched    solidly    above   him.  -;  Is  it  permitted?''  insisted  Ephraim. 

The  calm  of  the  negroes,  their  good  Eng-  "  He  will  not  ask,"  argued  Jacob  dubi- 

lish,  stripped  him  of  an  advantage  which  ously. 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


"  He  knows  without  asking." 
'  At  this,  very  slowly  and  unwillingly, 
Jacob  put  the  cigarette  back  into  the  hand 
of  Ben  Connor.  A  dozen  curious  questions 
came  into  the  mind  of  the  gambler,  but  he 
decided  wisely  to  change  the  subject. 

"  The  boss  gives  you  orders  not  to  leave, 
eh?"  he  went  on.  "  Not  a  step  outside  the 
gate?  What's  the  idea?" 

"  This  thing  was  true  in  the  time  of  the 
old  masters.  Only  Joseph  can  leave  the 
.valley,"  Ephraim  answered. 

"  And  you  don't  know  why  no  one  is  al- 
lowed inside  the  valley?" 

"  I  have  never  asked,"  said  Ephraim. 

Connor  smoked  fiercely,  peering  into  the 
fire. 

:{  Well,"  he  said  at  length,  "  you  see  my 
troubles?  I  can't  get  into  the  valley  to 
rest  up.  I  have  to  turn  around  and  try  to 
cross  those  mountains." 

"  Yes,"  nodded  Ephraim. 

"  But  the  horse  and  mule  will  never 
make  it  over  the  rocks.  I'll  have  to  leave 
them  behind  or  stay  and  starve  with  them." 

"  That  is  true." 

"  Rather  than  do  that,"  said  Connor, 
fencing  for  an  opening,  "I'd  leave  the  poor 
devils  here  to  live  in  the  valley." 

"  That  can  not  be.  No  animals  are  al- 
lowed to  enter." 

'•'  What?  You'd  allow  this  pair  to  die  at 
the  gate  of  the  valley?" 

"  No;  I  should  lead  them  first  into  the 
mountain?.'' 

"  This  is  incredible!  But  I  tell  you,  this 
horse  is  my  friend — I  can't  desert  him!" 

He  fumbled  in  his  coat  pocket  and  then 
stretched  out  his  hand  toward  the  chest- 
nut; the  horse  hobbled  a  few  steps  nearer 
and  nosed  the  palm  of  it  expectantly. 

"So!"  muttered  Ephraim,  and  shaded 
his  eyes  with  his  hand  to  look.  He  settled 
back  and  said  in  a  different  voice:  "  The 
horse  loves  you;  it  is  sad." 

"  I  put  the  matter  squarely  up  to  you," 
said  Connor.  "  You  see  how  I  stand.  Give 
me  your  advice!" 

The  negro  protested.  "  No,  no!  I  can- 
not advise  you.  I  know  nothing  of  what 
goes  on  out  yonder.  Nevertheless — " 

He  broke  off,  for  Connor  was  lighting 
another  cigarette  from  the  butt  of  the  first 


one,  and  Ephraim  paused  to  watch,  nodding 
with  a  sort  of  vicarious  pleasure  as  he  saw 
Connor  inhale  deeply  and  then  blow  out 
a  thin  drift  of  smoke. 

"  You  were  about  to  say  something  else 
when  I  lighted  this." 

"  Yes,  I  was  about  to  say  that  I  could 
not  advise  you,  but  I  can  send  to  Joseph. 
He  is  near  us  now." 

"  By  all  means  send  to  Joseph." 

"'  Jacob,"  ordered  the  keeper  of  the  gate. 
"  go  to  Joseph  and  tell  him  what  has  hap- 
pened." 

The  other  nodded,  and  then  whistled  a 
long  note  that  drifted  up  the  ravine.  After- 
ward there  was  no  answer,  but  Jacob  re- 
mained facing  expectantly  toward  the  inside 
of  the  valley  and  presently  Connor  heard  a 
sound  that  made  his  heart  leap,  the  rhyth- 
mic hoof-beats  of  a  galloping  horse;  and 
even  in  the  darkness  the  long  interval  be- 
tween impacts  told  him  something  of  the 
animal's  gait.  Then  into  the  circle  of  the 
firelight  broke  a  gray  horse  with  his  tail 
high,  his  mane  fluttering.  He  brought  his 
gallop  to  a  mincing  trot  and  came  straight 
toward  Jacob,  but  a  yard  from  the  negro  he 
stopped  and  leaped  catlike  to  one  side; 
with  head  tossed  high  he  stared  at  Connor. 

Cold  sweat  stood  on  the  forehead  of  the 
gambler,  for  it  was  like  something  he  had 
seen,  something  he  remembered;  all  his 
dreams  of  what  a  horse  should  be,  come 
true. 

Ephraim  was  saying  sternly : 

"  In  my  household  the  colts  are  taught 
better  manners,  Jacob." 

And  Jacob  answered,  greatly  perturbed: 
"There  is  a  wild  spirit  in  all  the  sons  of 
Harith." 

"  It  is  Cassim,  is  it  not?"  asked  Ephraim. 

"  Peace,  fool! "  said  Jacob  to  the  stallion, 
and  the  horse  came  and  stood  behind  him, 
still  watching  the  stranger  over  the  shoulder 
of  his  master. 

"  Years  dim  your   eyes,   Ephraim,"  he 

continued.    "  This  is  not  Cassim  and  he  is 

not  the  height  of  Cassim  by  an  inch.    No, 

it  is  Abra,  the  son  of  Hira,  who  was  the 

, daughter  of  Harith." 

He  smiled  complacently  upon  Ephraim, 
nodding  his  ancient  head,  and  Ephraim 
frowned. 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEX. 


2.", 


;-  It  is  true  that  my  eyes  are  noi  as  young 
as  yours,  Jacob;  but  the  horses  of  my 
household  are  taught  to  stand  when  they 
are  spoken  to  and  not  dance  like  foolish 
children/- 
This last  reproof  was  called  forth  by  the 
continual  weaving  back  and  forth  of  the 
stallion  as  he  looked  at  Connor,  first  from 
one  side  of  Jacob  and  then  from  the  other. 
The  old  negro  now  turned  with  a  raised 
hand. 

"Stand!  "he  ordered. 

The  stallion  jerked  up  his  head  and  be- 
came rigid. 

-  A  sharp  temper  makes  a  horse  with- 
out heart,"  said  the  oracular  Ephraim. 

Jacob  scowled,  and  rolling  his  eyes  an- 
grily, searched  for  a  reply;  but  he  found 
none.  Ephraim  clasped  one  knee  tightly 
in  both  hands,  and  weaving  his  head  a  little 
from  side  to  side,  delighted  in  his  triumph. 

"  And  the  hand  which  is  raised,"  went  on 
the  tormentor,  "  should  always  fall." 

He  was  apparently  quoting  from  an  au- 
thority against  which  there  was  no  appeal; 
now  he  concluded: 

;t  Threats  are  for  children,  and  yearlings; 
but  a  grown  horse  is  above  them." 

"  The  spirit  of  Harith  has  returned  in 
Abra,"  said  Jacob  gloomily.  From  that 
month  of  April  when  he  was  foaled  he  has 
been  a  trial  and  a  burden;  yes,  if  even  a 
cloud  Wows  over  the  moon  he  comes  to 
my  window  and  calls  me.  There  was  never 
such  a  horse  since  Harith.  However,  he 
shall  make  amends.  Abra!" 

The  stallion  stepped  nearer  and  halted, 
alert. 

"  Go  to  him,  fool.  Go  to  the  stranger 
and  give  him  your  head.  Quick!" 

The  gray  horse  turned,  hesitated,  and 
then  came  straight  to  Connor,  very  slowly ; 
there  he  bowed  his  head  and  dropped  his 
muzzle  on  the  knee  of  the  white  man,  but 
all  the  while  his  eyes  flared  at  the  strange 
face  in  terror.  Jacob  turned  a  proud  smile 
upon  Ephraim,  and  the  latter  nodded. 

"  It  is  a  good  colt,"  he  admitted.  ;'  His 
heart  is  right,  and  in  time  he  may  grow  to 
some  worth." 

Once  more  Connor  fumbled  in  his 
pocket. 

(To  be  continued 


"  Steady,"  he  said,  looking  squarely  into 
the  great,  bright  eyes.  "  Steady,  boy." 

He  put  his  hand  under  the  nose  of  the 
stallion. 

"  It's  a  new  smell,  but  little  different." 

Abra  snorted  softly,  but  though  he  shook 
he  dared  not  move.  The  gambler,  with  a 
side  glance,  saw  the  two  negroes  watching 
intently. 

"  Ah,"  said  Connor,  "  you  have  pulled 
against  a  headstall  here,  eh?" 

He  touched  an  old  scar  on  the  cheek 
of  the  horse,  and  Abra  closed  his  eyes,  but 
opened  them  again  when  he  discovered  that 
no  harm  was  done  to  him  by  the  tips  of 
those  gentle  fingers. 

"  You  may  let  him  have  his  head  again," 
said  Connor.  "  He  will  not  leave  me  now 
until  he  is  ordered." 

"  So?"  exclaimed  Jacob.  ;'  We  shall  see! 
Enough,  Abra!" 

The  gray  tossed  up  his  head  at  that 
word,  but  after  he  had  taken  one  step  he 
returned  and  touched  the  back  of  the  white 
man's  hand,  snuffed  at  his  shoulder  and  at 
at  his  hat  and  then  stood  with  pricking 
ears.  A  soft  exclamation  came  in  unison 
from  the  two  negroes. 

"  I  have  never  seen  it  before,"  muttered 
Jacob.  "  To  see  it,  one  would  say  he  was 
a  son  of  Julanda." 

"  It  is  my  teaching  and  not  the  blood 
of  Julanda  that  gives  my  horses  manners," 
corrected  Ephraim.  "  However,  if  I  might 
look  in  the  hand  of  the  stranger— 

"  There  is  nothing  in  it,"  answered  Con- 
nor, smiling,  and  he  held  out  both  empty 
palms.  "  All  horses  are  like  this  with  me." 

"  Is  it  true?"  they  murmured  together. 

"  Yes;  I  don't  know  why.  But  you  were 
going  to  bring  Joseph." 

"  Ah,"  said  Ephraim,  shaking  his  head. 
"  I  had  almost  forgotten.  Hurry,  Jacob; 
but  if  you  will  take  my  advice  in  the  mat- 
ter you  will  teach  your  colts  fewer  tricks 
and  more  sound  sense." 

The  other  grunted,  and  putting  his  hand 
on  the  withers  of  Abra,  he  leaped  to  the 
back  with  the  lightness  of  a  strong  youth. 
A  motion  of  his  hand  sent  the  gray  into 
a  gallop  that  shot  them  through  the  gate 
into  darkness. 
NEXT  WEEK.) 


Cf/wvni 


<&&&&-> 

*i cfr 

•£ET*\ 


uCirles  Divine 


JERRY  leaped  toward  the  ball.  It  was 
a  tantalizing  grounder,  rolling  so  slowly 
that  it  looked  as  if  it  could  never  be 
gathered  in  before  the  batter  reached  first 
Two  men  were  out,  and  the  runner  on  third 
was  halfway  to  the  plate  with  a  tally  that 
would  count  mightily  against  us  unless 
Jerry  made  a  grand-stand  play. 

The  crowd  held  its  breath  and  watched. 
Jerry  ran  with  his  head  lunging  forward. 
Bending  over,  with  his  bare  right  hand  he 
scooped  up  the  ball  on  the  run  and  shot  it 
across  to  Cuddy  at  first  base  with  an  un- 
derhand swing. 

"Ow-w-wt!"  cried  the  umpire,  jerking 
his  arm  upward. 

The  crowd  breathed  again.  There  were 
many  yells  of  delight  that  must  have  done 
Gill  Gillespie's  heart  good,  for  we  were  in 
sixth  place  in  the  league  standing,  and  our 
manager  had  been  looking  in  vain  for  im- 
provement in  our  play. 

"Nice  work,  Jerry!"  the  fans  called  to 
the  rangy  second  baseman  as  we  came  to 
the  bench  for  our  half  of  the  seventh. 

Handclapping  rippled  over  the  grand 
stand  in  tribute  to  Jerry  Potter,  but  he 
touched  the  brim  of  his  cap  reluctantly  and 
frowned. 

At  once  Gillespie  let  out  a  cry  of  protest. 
"  What's  the  matter?  You  get  a  good  hand 
for  a  snappy  piece  of  fielding,  and  yet  you 


look   as  if   you'd  lost  your  meal   ticket. 
Can't  you  smile  once  in  a  while?" 

"  If  the  ball  had  been  hit  harder  I  could 
have  waited  for  it,"  returned  Jerry. 

"There  you  go!"  exploded  Gillespie. 
"  Always  complaining,  always  pessimistic." 
Suddenly  his  face  grew  redder  and  anger 
glinted  in  his  eyes;  he  shook  an  admonish- 
ing finger  at  Jerry's  solemn  face.  "  I  won't 
stand  for  it  much  longer.  You  may  be  hit- 
ting over  two-eighty,  but  your  dismal 
moods  get  my  goat.  I  won't  have  a  gloom 
on  second  base.  It  has  a  bad  influence  on 
the  rest  of  the  players." 

Jerry  stared  at  him  soberly.  "  It's  bet- 
ter than  a  Pollyanna,  isn't  it?  That  stuff 
makes  one  sick  at  the  stomach." 

"  I  don't  know  what  you  mean,  but  I'll 
tell  you  one  thing  that's  final — if  you  keep 
on  like  this,  with  never  a  cheerful  word, 
you'll  be  looking  for  another  berth." 

Gillespie  turned  away  abruptly  and.  be- 
gan talking  to  Kingsley,  the  principal  stock- 
holder and  treasurer.  Some  of  the  players 
sitting  on  the  bench  chuckled  over  Jerry's 
new  title,  "  the  gloom  on  second  base," 
but  others  of  us  were  worried  about  it. 
Jerry  was  such  a  decent,  easy-going  fellow 
at  heart  that  every  one  of  us  would  have 
hated  to  see  him  let  out,  and  yet  we  knew 
that  when  Gill  spoke  as  he  had  done  it 
boded  ill  for  Jerry's  continuance  with  the 


THE    BOSS    OF    CAMP    K. 


213 


The  latter  responded  nobly.  Some  night 
work  was  necessary,  but  when  the  track- 
layers arrived  the  way  was  clear  for  them. 
The  contract  was  completed  on  time.  The 
men  were  paid  off,  with  a  small  bonus  for 
their  good  work,  and  presently  Paul  and 
Ethel  were  left  alone  in  the  camp  with  only 
a  few  workers,  Xixey  Reed  among  them, 
to  assist  in  moving  the  outfit. 

"  Now  we  can  investigate  the  mine,"  said 
Ethel.  ••  What  shall  we  do?  Send  for  an 
expert?" 

"  I've  already  done  that,"  said  Paul.  "  A 
man  from  the  smelter  at  Great  Falls  should 
arrive  this  very  day." 

When  the  expert  came  he  spent  an  hour 
or  two  looking  over  the  ground,  then  made 
a  verbal  report. 

"  I  doubt  if  you'll  make  a  fortune  out  of 
that  seam,"  he  said.  "  It  is  thin  and  the 
ore  doesn't  grade  very  high,  and  I'm  prac- 
tically certain  that  it  will  peter  out  in  a 
few  months.  But  since  it's  right  on  the 
railroad,  it's  worth  working.  It  ought  to 
be  good  for  ten  thousand  dollars." 

"  That's  more  than  I  expected,"  said 
Paul. 

"  Of  course  we'll  go  ahead  and  work  it," 
said  Ethel  after  the  expert  had  left. 

"  We?"  said  Paul. 

(The 


Ethel  blushed.  "  I  promised  you  a  share 
in  it,  you  know." 

"  And  I  said  I  would  accept  it  on  one 
condition  only." 

There  was  an  awkward  silence,  which 
Ethel  broke  presently. 

"  What  is  your  condition?" 

"  You! "  said  Paul.  "  I'll  accept  a  share 
only  on  condition  that  you  marry  me." 

"  Marry  you?"  exclaimed  Ethel.  "  Why, 
you  never  even  said  that  you  liked  me,  much 
less — anything  else." 

"  I  guess  that's  right,"  Paul  admitted.  "  I 
wanted  to  often  enough,  but  I  didn't  have 
the  courage.  And  you  didn't  make  it  easy. 
I  never  saw  such  a  businesslike  girl." 

Ethel  smiled. 

"  Well,  I  haven't  any  business  on  my 
hands  now,  have  I?  And  won't  have  until 
we  get  our  mine  in  operation." 

Paul  took  hold  of  both  her  hands. 

"  We?"  he  repeated.  "  Did  I  hear  you 
use  the  word  '  we  *  after  I  told  you  what 
my  partnership  condition  was?" 

Ethel  just  looked  at  him  and  smiled. 

And  Paul  knew  then  that,  along  with  a 
success  in  his  new  job,  he  had  won  some- 
thing vastly  more  precious — the  love  of 
the  girl  he  had  adored  from  the  moment 
he  first  set  eyes  on  her. 
end.) 


APRIL    CAME 

A  PRIL  came  to  me 
^^  With  eyes  that  were  wet, 
A  dream  and  a  vision 
I  could  not  forget. 

April  came  to  me, 
And,  oh,  she  was  fair 

With  the  mists  of  the  mountains 
Like  pearls  in  her  hair. 

April  came  to  me 

One  rainy  day; 
Long,  long  I  held  her, 

And,  lo,  she  was  May. 


Edgar  Daniel  Kramer. 


PartH 
Meoc  Breouf 


Anther  of  ••  The  Untamed,"  "  Trailin',"  "  The  Seventh  Man,"  "  Black  Jack,"  etc. 

WHAT    HAS    ALREADY    HAPPENED 

BEN  CONNOR,  race  track  gambler,  comes  to  Lukin  to  forget  his  fast  life  and  relax  from  his 
feverish  activities,  but  no  sooner  does  he  put  up  at  the  local  hotel  when  he  learns  of  a  deaf- 
mute  negro  who  raises  the  finest  horses  possible.    Ruth  Manning,  telegraph  operator,  gives  him 
the  details.     The  eccentric  negro  lives  in  a  valley,  and  no  white  man  has  ever  visited  the  place. 
Impulsively,  Connor  starts  out  on  the  journey.    On  the  outskirts  of  the  valley  Connor  makes  the 
acquaintance  of  two  uncanny  negroes  whose  religion  is  horse  raising. 


CHAPTER    IX. 

THE  APE'S   HEAD. 


ently,  and  his  voice  faltered.  "  He  flowed. 
He  poured  himself  through  the  air." 

He  swept  a  hand  across  his  forehead  and 
with  great  effort  calmed  the  muscles  of  his 
face. 

"  Are  there  more  horses  like  that  in  the 


THAT    faint    and    rhythmic    chiming 
which  Connor  had  heard  from  the 
mountain  when  he  first  saw  the  val- 
ley now  came  again  through  the  gate,  more  valley?" 

clearly.      There    was    something    familiar  The  old  negro  hesitated,  for  there  was 

about   the   sound — yet   Connor   could   not  such  a  glittering  hunger  in  the  eyes  of  this 

place  it.  white  man  that  it  abashed  him.     Vanity, 

"  Did  you  mark?"  said  Ephraim,  shaking  however,  brushed  scruple  away, 

his  head.    "  Did  you  see  the  colt  shy  at  the  "  More  like  Abra  in  the  valley?    So! " 

white  rock  as  he  ran?     In  my  household  He  seemed  to  hunt  for  superlatives  with 

that  could  never  happen;   and  yet  Jacob  which  to  overwhelm  his  questioner, 

does  well  enough,  for  the  blood  of  Harith  is  "  The  worst  in  my  household  is  Tabari, 

as  stubborn  as  old  oak  and  wild  as  a  wolf,  the  daughter  of  Xuman,  and  she  was  foaled 

But  your  gift,  sir  " — and  here  he  turned  lame  in  the  left  foreleg.     But  if  ten  like 

with  much  respect  toward  Connor — "  is  a  Abra  were  placed  in  one  corral  and  Tabari 

great  one.    I  have  never  seen  Harith's  sons  in  the  other,  a  wise  man  would  give  the 

come  to  a  man  as  Abra  came  to  you."  ten  and  take  the  one  and  render  thanks 

He  was  surprised  to  see  the  stranger  star-  that  such  good  fortune  had  come  his  way.' 

ing  toward  the  gate  as  if  he  watched  a  ghost.  'Is  it  possible?'    exclaimed   Connor  in 

"  He  did  not  gallop,"  said  Connor  pres-  that  same,  small,  choked  voice. 

This  story  began  in  the  Argosy-Allstory  Weekly  for  April  15. 

214 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN.  215 

"  I  speak  calmly,"  said  the  grave  negro,  but  when  he  ended  Joseph  answered  not 

He  added  with  some  hesitation:  "  But  if  I  a  word.    Connor  remembered  now  what  he 

must  tell  the  whole  truth,  I  shall  admit  had  heard  of  the  deaf  mute  who  alone  went 

that  my  household  is  not  like  the  house-  back  and  forth  from  the  Garden  of  Eden, 

hold  of  the  blood  of  Rustir.     Just  as  she  and  his  heart  fell.    It  was  talking  to  a  face 

was  the  queen  of  horses,  so  those  of  her  of  stone. 

blood  are  above  other  horses  as  the  master  In   the  meantime  Joseph   continued  to 

is  above  me.    Yet,  if  ten  like  Tabari  were  examine  the  stranger.     From  head  to  foot 

placed  in  one  corral  and  the  stallion  Glani  the  little,  bright  eyes  moved,  leisurely,  and 

were  placed  in  another,  I  suppose  that  a  Connor  grew  hot  as  he  endured  it.    When 

wise  man  would  give  the  ten  for  the  one."  the  survey  was  completed  to  his  own  satis- 

He  added  with  a  sigh:  "  But  I  should  faction,  Joseph  went  first  to  the  mule  and 

not  have  such  wisdom."  next  to  the  horse,  lifting  their  feet  one  by 

Connor  smiled.  one,  then  running  his  hands  over  their  legs. 

"  And  at  that  rate  it  would  require  a  After  this  he  turned  to  Jacob  and  his  great 

hundred  like  Abra  to  buy  Glani?"  he  asked,  black  fingers  glided  through  the  characters 

"  A  thousand,"  said  the  old  man  instant-  of  the  language  of  the  mute,  bunching,  knot- 

ly,   "  and   then   the   full   price  would   not  ting,  darting  out  in  a  fluid  swiftness, 

be  paid.    I  have  already  asked  the  master  "  Joseph     says,"     translated     Ephraim, 

to  cross  him  with  Hira.     He  will  answer  "  that  your  horse  is  lame,  but  that  he  can 

me  soon;  one  touch  of  Glani's  blood  will  climb  the  hills  if  you  go  on  foot;  the  mule 

lift  the  strain  in  my  household.     My  colts  is  not  lame  at  all,  but  is  pretending,  because 

are  good  mettle — but  the  fire,  the  soul  of  he  is  tired." 

Glani! "  An  oath  rose  up  in  the  throat  of  Connor, 

He  bowed  his  head.  but  he  checked  it  against  his  teeth  and 

"  Ah,     they     are    coming,^  Jacob    and  smiled  at  Joseph.     The  big  negro  hissed 

Joseph."  through  his  teeth  and  his  mare  sprang  to  his 

His  keen  ear  heard  a  sound  which  was  side.    She  was  not  more  than  fourteen  two, 

not  audible  to  Connor  for  several  moments;  and  slenderly  made  compared  with  Abra, 

then  two  gray  horses  swept  into  the  circle  of  yet  she  had  borne  the  great  bulk  of  Joseph 

the  firelight,  and  from  the  mare  which  led  with  ease  before,  and  now  she  was  appar- 

Abra  by  several  yards,  a  stalwart  negro  dis-  ently  ready  to  carry  him  again.  He  dropped 

mounted.  his  hand  upon  her  withers,  and  facing  Con- 

An  intermixture  of  white  blood  must  have  nor,  swept  his  arm  out  in  a  broad  gesture 

been  the  refining  influence  in  Jacob  and  of  dismissal.     Vaguely  the  white  man  no- 

Ephraim,    for  only   their  color   told   their  ticed  this,  but  his  real  interest  centered  on 

race;   but  Joseph  was  the  true  Ethiopian  the  form  of  the  mare.     He  was  seeing  her 

with  narrow  forehead,  bulging  over  the  eyes,  not  with  that  unwieldy  bulk  crushing  her 

a  flattened  nose,  and  great,  shapeless  mouth,  back,  but  with  a  flyweight  jockey  mounted 

Only  physically  he  seemed  formidable,  his  on  a  racing  pad  riding  her  past  the  grand 

shoulders  ponderous  and  his  hands  hanging  stand.    He  was  hearing  the  odds  which  the 

far  down  his  thigh.     The  gambler  beheld  bookies  off ered ;  he  was  watching  those  odds 

him  with  greater  confidence.  drop  by  leaps  and  bounds  as  he  hammered 

"  If  you  are  Joseph,"  he  said,  u  I  suppose  away  at  them,  betting  in  lumps  of  hundreds 

Jacob  had  already  told  you  about  me.    My  and  five  hundreds,  staking  his  fortune  on 

name  is  Connor.    I've  been  hunting  up  the  his  first  "  sure  thing."     Even  as  she  stood 

Girard  River,  struck  across  the  mountains  passive,  tossing  her  nose,  he  knew  her  speed, 

yonder,  and  here  I've  brought  up  with  a  and  it  took  his  breath.    Abra  himself  would 

lame  mule  and  a  lamer  horse.    The  point  is  walk  away  from  ordinary  company,  but  this 

that  I  want  to  rest  up  in  your  valley  until  gray  mare — slowly  Connor  looked  back  to 

my  animals  can  go  on.    Is  is  possible?"  the  face  of  Joseph  and  saw  that  the  negro 

While  he  spoke  the  negro  watched  him  was  waiting  to  see  his  command  obeyed, 

with  eyes  which  squinted  in  their  intensitv.  For  the  first  time  he  noted  the  cartridge 


216  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 

belt  strung  across  the  fellow's  gaunt  middle  paused  with  astonishment.     The  mask  of 
— lean  as  the  loins  of  an  ape  and  the  holster  the  mute  which  he  had  hitherto  kept  on 
in  which  pulled  the  weight  of  a  forty-five,  his  face  now  fell  from  it. 
In  case  of  doubt,  here  was  a  cogent  reason  "  Let  me  see,"  the  black  giant  was  saying, 
to  hurry  a  loiterer.    To  persuade  that  ugly  and  held  out  his  hand  for  the  ivory  image, 
face  of  ebony  would  never  have  been  easy,  The  pulse  of  Connor  doubled  its  beat- 
but  to  persuade  him  through  an  interpreter  but  with  his  fingers  still  closed  he  said: 
made  the  affair  impossible.     Struggling  for  "  The  ivory  head  is  an  old  companion  of 
a  loophole  of  escape,  he  absentmindedly  un-  mine  and  had  brought  me  a  great  deal  of 
snapped  from  his   watch   chain   the  little  luck." 

ivory   talisman,   the   ape  head,   and   com-  The  torchlight  changed  in  the  eyes  of 

menced  to  finger  it.     It  had  been  his  con-  Joseph  as  the  sun  glints  and  glimmers  on 

stant  companion  for  years  and  in  a  measure  watered  silk. 

he  connected  his  luck  with  it.  "  I  would  not  hurt  it,"  he  said,  and  made 

"  My  friend,"  said  Connor  to  Ephraim,  a  gingerly  motion  to  show-  how  light  and 
"  you  see  my  position?  But  if  I  can't  do  deft  his  fingers  could  be. 
better  is  there  any  objection  to  my  using  "  Very  well,"  said  Connor,  "  but  I  rarely 
this  fire  of  yours  for  cooking?  The  fire,  let  it  out  of  my  hand." 
at  least,  is  outside  the  valley."  He  stepped  closer  to  the  firelight  and  ex- 
Even  this  question  Ephraim  apparently  posed  the  little  carving  again.  It  was  a 
did  not  feel  qualified  to  answer.  He  turned  curious  bit  of  work,  with  every  detail  nicely 
first  to  the  gigantic  negro  and  conversed  executed;  pin  point  emeralds  were  inset  for 
with  him  at  some  length;  his  own  fluent  sig-  eyes,  the  lips  grinned  back  from  tiny  fangs 
nals  were  answered  by  single  movements  on  of  gold,  and  the  swelling  neck  suggested  the 
the  part  of  Joseph,  and  Connor  recognized  powerful  ape  body  of  the  model.  In  the 
the  signs  of  dissent.  firelight  the  teeth  and  eyes  flashed. 

"  I  have  told  him  everything,"  said  the  The  ugly  face  of  Joseph  grinned  in  sym- 
ancient  negro,  turning  again  to  Connor  and  pathy;  with  his  yellow  teeth  and  his  shifting 
shaking  his  head  in  sympathy.  "  And  how  eyes  he  might  have  served  as  a  model  for 
Abra  came  to  you,  but  though  the  horse  the  little  carving.  Ephraim  and  Jacob  also 
trusted  you,  Joseph  does  not  wish  you  to  had  drawn  close,  and  the  white  man  saw- 
stay.  I  am  sorry."  in  the  three  black  faces  one  expression:  they 

Connor  looked  through  the  gate  into  the  had  become  children  before  a  master,  and 

darkness  of  the  Garden  of  Eden;  at  the  en-  when  Connor  placed  the  trinket  in  the  great 

trance  to  his  promised  land  he  was  to  be  paw  of  Joseph  the  other  two  flashed  at  him 

turned  back.    In  his  despair  he  opened  his  glances  of  envy.     As  for  the  big  negro,  he 

palm  and  looked  down  absently  at  the  little  was  transformed ;  he  had  been  swept  a  thou- 

grinning  ape  head  of  ivory.    Even  while  he  sand  generations  back   toward   an   animal 

was  deep  in  thought  he  felt  the  silence  which  prototype. 

settled  over  the  three  negroes,  and  when  he  "  Speak  truth,"  he  said  suddenly.    "  Why 

looked  up  he  saw  the  glittering  eyes  of  Jo-  do  you  wish  to  enter  the  Garden?" 

seph  fixed  upon  the  trinket.     That  instant  "  I've  already  told  you,  I  think,"  said 

new  hope  came  to  Connor;   he  closed  his  Connor.     "  It's  to  rest  up  until  the  horse 

hand  over  the  ape  head,  and  turning  to  and  mule  are  well  again." 

Ephraim  he  said:  The  glance  of  the  huge  negro,  which  had 

"  Very  well.  If  there's  nothing  else  for  hitherto  wandered  from  the  trinket  to  the 
me  to  do,  I'll  take  the  chance  of  getting  face  of  the  white  man,  now  steadied  bright- 
through  the  mountains  with  my  lame  nags."  ly  upon  the  latter. 

As  he  spoke  he  threw  the  reins  over  the  "  There  must  be  another  reason." 

neck  of  the  chestnut;  but  before  he  could  Connor  felt  himself  pressed  to  the  wall, 

put  his  foot  in  the  stirrup  the  big  negro  was  "  Look  at  the  thing  you  have  in  your 

beside  him  and  touched  his  shoulder.  hand,  Joseph.     You  are  asking  yourself: 

"Wait!"  said  Joseph,  and  the  gambler  'What  is  it?    Who  made  it?     See  how  the 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN. 


217 


firelight  glitters  on  it — perhaps  there  is  life 
in  it!'" 

"  Ah! "  sighed  the  three  in  one  breath. 

"  Perhaps  there  is  power  in  it.  I  have  used 
it  well  and  it  has  brought  me  a  great  deal 
of  good  luck.  But  you  would  like  to  know 
all  those  things,  Joseph.  Now  look  at  the 
gate  to  the  Garden!" 

He  waved  to  the  lofty  and  dark  cleft  be- 
fore them. 

"  It  is  like  a  face  to  me.  People  live 
behind  it.  Who  are  they?  Who  is  the  mas- 
ter? What  does  he  do?  What  is  his 
power?  That  is  another  reason  why  I  wish 
to  go  in;  and  why  should  you  fear  me? 
I  am  alone;  I  am  unarmed." 

It  seemed  that  Joseph  learned  more  from 
Connor's  expression  than  from  his  words. 

"  The  law  is  the  will  of  David." 

The  Garden  became  to  Connor  as  the  for- 
bidden room  to  Bluebeard's  wife;  it  tempt- 
ed him  as  a  high  cliff  tempts  the  climber 
toward  a  fall.  He  mustered  a  calm  air  and 
voice. 

"  That  is  a  matter  I  can  arrange  with 
your  master.  He  may  have  laws  to  keep 
out  thieves,  but  certainly  he  has  nothing 
against  honest  men." 

Joseph  shrugged  his  big  shoulders,  but 
Ephraim  answered:  "  The  will  of  David 
never  changes.  I  am  no  longer  young,  but 
since  I  have  been  old  enough  to  remember, 
I  have  never  seen  a  man  either  come  into 
the  valley  or  leave  it  except  Joseph." 

The  solemnity  of  the  old  negro  staggered 
Connor.  He  felt  his  resolution  to  enter  at 
any  cost  waver,  and  then  Abra,  the  young 
stallion,  came  to  his  side  and  looked  in  his 
face. 

It  was  the  decisive  touch.  The  life  which 
the  devotee  would  risk  for  his  God,  or  the 
patriot  for  his  country,  the  gambler  was 
willing  to  venture  for  the  sake  of  a  "  sure 
thing." 

"  Let  us  exchange  gifts,"  said  Connor; 
"  I  give  you  the  ivory  head.  It  may  bring 
you  good  luck.  You  give  me  the  right  to 
enter  the  valley  and  I  accept  any  good  or 
evil  that  comes  to  me." 

The  huge  fingers  of  Joseph  curled  softly 
over  the  image. 

"Beware  of  the  law!"  cried  Ephraim. 
-  And  the  hand  of  the  master!" 


The  giant  shrank,  but  he  looked  at 
Ephraim  with  sullen  defiance. 

"  Come,"  he  said  to  Connor.  "  This  is 
on  vour  own  head." 


CHAPTER   X. 

THE    ENTRANCE    TO    EDEN. 

'  ¥  T  is  a  long  ride  to  the  house  of  David," 

;  said  Jacob.  "  Your  horse  is  footsore; 
take  Abra." 

But  Ephraim  broke  in:  "  If  you  care 
for  speed  and  wise  feet  beneath  you,  Tabari 
herself  is  there." 

He  whistled  as  Jacob  had  done  before, 
but  with  another  grace-note  at  the  end. 

"  Those  of  my  household  answer  when 
they  are  called,"  continued  the  old  man 
proudly.  "Listen!" 

A  soft  whinny  out  of  the  darkness,  and 
Tabari  galloped  into  the  firelight,  and 
stopped  at  the  side  of  her  master  motion- 
less. 

11  Choose,"  said  Ephraim. 

He  smiled  at  Jacob,  who  in  return  was 
darkly  silent. 

The  mare  tugged  at  the  heartstrings  of 
Connor,  but  he  answered,  slipping  carefully 
into  the  formal  language  which  apparently 
was  approved  most  in  the  valley. 

"  She  is  worthy  of  a  king,  but  Abra  was 
offered  to  me  first.  But  will  he  carry  a 
saddle?" 

"  He  will  carry  anything  but  a  whip," 
said  Jacob,  casting  a  glance  of  triumph  at 
Ephraim."  "You  will  see!"  He  was  al- 
ready busy  at  the  knot  under  the  flap  of 
Connor's  saddle,  and  presently  he  slipped 
the  saddle  from  the  back  of  the  chestnut. 
"  Come!"  he  called. 

Abra  came,  but  he  came  like  a  fighter 
into  the  ring,  dancing,  ready  for  trouble. 

"Fool!"  shouted  Jacob,  stamping. 
"  Fool,  and  grandson  of  a  fool,  stand!" 

The  ears  of  Abra  flicked  back  along  his 
neck  and  he  trembled  as  the  saddle  was 
swung  over  him.  Under  its  impact  he 
crouched  and  shuddered,  but  the  outbreak 
of  bucking  for  which  Connor  waited  did 
not  come.  The  jerk  on  the  cinch  brought 
a  snort  from  him,  but  that  was  all. 

"  We  may  not  put  iron  in  his  mouth." 


218  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

said  Jacob,  as  Connor  came  up  with  the  trees  rushing  past  him  against  the  sky,  and 

bridle,  "  but  a  touch  on  this  will  turn  him  for  the  first  time  he  knew  the  speed  of  that 

or  stop  him,  as  you  wish."  gallop.     In  his  exultation  he  threw  up  his 

As  he  spoke  he  picked  up  a  small  rope,  hand,  and  his  shout  rang  before  him  and 

which  he  knotted  around  the  neck  of  Abra  behind.  That  taught  him  a  lesson  he  would 

close  to  the  ears,  and  handed  the  end  to  never  forget  when  he  sat  the  saddle  on  an 

Connor.  Eden  Gray;    for  Abra  lurched  into  a  run 

"Look!"  he  said  to  the  horse,  pointing  with    a   suddenness    that    swayed    Connor 

to  Connor.     "  This  is  your  master  to-night,  against  the  can  tie  again. 

Bear  him  as  you  would  bear  me,  Abra,  He  steadied  himself  quickly  and  called 

without  leaping  or  stumbling,  smoothly,  as  to   Abra;    the   first   word   cut   down   that 

son  of  Khalissa  should  do.    And  hark,"  he  racing  gait  to  the  long,  free  stride,  but  the 

added  in  the  ear  of  the  young  stallion;  "  if  brief  rush  had  taken  the  breath  of  the  rider, 

the  mare  of  Joseph  outruns  you,  you  are  no  and  now  he  looked  about  him. 

horse  of  my  household,  but  a  mongrel,  a  He  had  been  in  California  years  before, 

bloodless  knave."  and  now  he  recognized  the  peculiar,  clean 

Joseph  was  already  trotting  through  the  perfume  of  the  trees  which  line  the  road; 

gate  and  growing  dim  beyond,  so  Connor  they  were  the  eucalyptus,  and  they  fenced 

put  his  foot  in  the  stirrup  and  swung  into  the  way  with  a  gigantic  hedge  several  rows 

the  saddle.     He  landed  as  upon  springs,  all  deep.     It  was  a  winding  road  that  they 

the  lithe  body  of  the  stallion  giving  under  followed,  dipping  over  a  rolling  ground  and 

the  shock;    and   Connor   felt  a  quivering  swinging  leisurely  from  side  to  side  to  avoid 

power  beneath  him  like  the  vibration  of  a  high  places,  so  that  the  vista  of  the  trees 

racing  motor.     Abra's  eyes  glinted  as  he  was  continually  in  motion,  twisting  back 

threw  his  head  high  to  take  stock  of  the  and  forth;  or  when  he  looked  straight  up 

new  master.  he  saw  the  slender  tree-points  brushing  past 

"  Go,"  commanded  Jacob;  "  and  remem-  the  stars.  So  he  galloped  into  a  long,  straight 

ber  your  speed,  for  the  honor  of  him  who  stretch  with  a  pale  gleam  of  water  beyond 

trained  you!"  it;  and  between  he  saw  Joseph. 

The  last  words  were  whipped  away  from  It  was  strange  that  in  spite  of  the  speed 

the  ear  of  Connor  and  trailed  into  a  mur-  of  Abra  Joseph's  mare  had  not  been  over- 

mur  behind  him,  for  without  a  preliminary  taken;    for   no    matter   what    quality    the 

step  Abra  sprang  from  a  stand  into  a  full  mare  might  have,  she  carried  in  the  gigantic 

gallop.     That  forward  lurch  swayed  Con-  negro  an  impost  of  some  two  hundred  and 

nor    far    back;    he    lost    touch    with    his  fifty  pounds.    A  suspicion  of  discourtesy  on 

stirrups,  but,  clinging  desperately  with  his  his  part  must  have  come  to  Joseph,  for  now 

knees,  he  was  presently  able  to  right  him-  he  brought  his  horse  back  to  a  canter  that 

self.     There  was  hard  gravel  beneath  them,  allowed  Connor  to  come  close,  so  close  in- 

but  the  gait  was  as  soft  as  if  Abra  ran  in  deed   that  he   saw  Joseph   laughing  in   a 

deep  sand  without  labor;  there  was  no  more  horrible  soundless  way  and  beckoning  him 

wrench  and  shock  than  the  ghost  of  a  man  on,   very   much  as   though   he  challenged 

riding  a  ghost  of  a  horse.  Abra.     Surely  the  fellow  must  know  that 

A  column  of  black  shot  by  on  either  no   horse   could    concede    such    weight   to 

hand;  Connor  was  through  the  gate  to  the  Abra,  but  Connor  waved  his  arm  to  signify 

Garden  of  Eden  and  rushing  down  the  slope  that  he  accepted  the  challenge,  and  called 

beyond.     He  knew  this  dimly,  but  chiefly  on  Abra. 

he  was  aware  only  of  the  whipping  of  the  There  followed  the  breathless  lunge  for- 

wind.     Something  Ephraim  had  said  came  ward,  the  sinking  of  the  body  as  the  stride 

into  his  memory:   "  If  there  were  ten  like  lengthened,  the  whir  of  wind  against  his 

Abra  in  one  corral,  and  one  like  Tabari  in  face;  Connor  sat  the  saddle  erect,  smiling, 

another,  as  wise  man—        But,  no  doubt,  and  waited  for  Joseph   to   come  back  to 

Ephraim  had  jested.  him. 

For,  glancing  up,  he  saw  the  tops  of  tall  But  Joseph  did  not  come,  and  as  the 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN.  219 

mare  reached  the  river  and  her  hoofs  rang  erate  pace.  One  hand  was  clutched  at  his 
on  the  bridge  Connor  saw  with  unspeakable  throat,  for  it  seemed  to  him  that  his  heart 
wonder  that  he  had  actually  lost  ground,  was  beating  there.  Before  him  raced  a 
Once  more  he  called  on  Abra,  and  as  they  vision  of  Ben  Connor,  king  of  the  race- 
struck  the  bridge  in  turn  the  young  stallion  tracks  of  the  world,  with  horses  no  handi- 
was  fully  extended,  while  Connor  swung  capper  could  measure. 

forward  in  the  saddle  to  throw  more  weight  

on  the  withers  and  take  the  strain  from 

the  long  black  muscles.     Leaning  close  to  CHAPTER  XI. 
the  neck  of  Abra,  with  the  mane  whipping 
his   face,  he  squinted   down   the   road  at 

Joseph,  and  growled  with  savage  satisfac-  A  SECOND  thought  made  him  lean  a 
tion  as  he  saw  the  mare  drift  back  to  him.  /-\  little,  listening  closely,  and  then  he 
If  he  could  reach  her  with  a  sprint  she  discovered  that  after  this  terrific 
was  beaten,  for  she  bore  the  extra  burden,  trial  Abra  was  breathing  deep  and  free. 
Once  more  he  called  on  Abra,  and  heard  a  Connor  sat  straight  again  and  smiled.  They 
slight  grunt  as  the  stallion  gave  the  last  must  be  close  to  the  lake  he  had  seen  from 
burst  of  his  strength;  the  hoofs  of  the  two  the  mountain,  for  among  the  trees  to  his 
roared  on  the  hard  road,  and  Joseph  came  left  was  a  faint  gleam  of  water.  A  mo- 
back  hand  over  hand.  Connor,  laughing  ment  later  this  glimmer  went  out,  and  the 
exultantly,  squinted  into  the  wind.  hoofbeats  of  Abra  were  muffled  on  turf. 
"  Good  boy!"  he  muttered.  "  Good  old  They  had  left  the  road  and  headed  for  a 
Abra!  If  he  had  Saivator  under  him  we'd  scattering  of  lights.  Joseph  had  drawn  the 
get  him  at  this  rate.  We're  on  his  hip —  mare  back  to  a  hand-gallop,  and  Abra  fol- 
Now!"  lowed  the  example;  at  this  rocking  gait 
He  was  indeed  in  touch  with  the  flying  they  swept  through  the  grove  between  two 
mare,  and,  looking  through  the  dimness,  long,  low  buildings,  always  climbing,  and 
he  marveled  at  her  long,  free  swing,  the  came  suddenly  upon  a  larger  house.  On 
level  drive  of  the  croup,  and — he  saw  with  three  sides  Connor  looked  down  upon  wa- 
astonishment — her  pricking  ears!  Not  as  ter;  the  building  was  behind  him.  Not  a 
if  she  were  racing,  but  merely  galloping,  light  showed  in  it,  but  he  made  out  the 
He  flattened  himself  along  the  neck  of  Abra  low,  single  story,  the  sense  of  weight,  and 
and  called  on  him  again,  slapped  his  shoul-  crude  arches  of  the  Mission  style.  Through 
der  with  the  flat  of  his  hand,  flicked  him  an  opening  in  the  center  of  the  fagade  he 
along  the  flank  with  the  butt  of  the  rope:  looked  into  darkness  which  he  knew  must 
but  the  mare  held  him  invincibly:  he  could  be  the  patio. 

not  gain  the  breadth  of  a  hair,  and  by  the  Following  the  example  of  Joseph,  he  dis- 
pounding  of  Abra's  forefeet  he  knew  that  mounted,  and  while  the  big  negro,  with  his 
the  stallion  was  running  himself  out.  At  waddling,  difficult  walk,  disappeared  into 
that  moment,  to  crown  his  bewilderment,  the  court,  Connor  stepped  back  and  looked 
Joseph  turned,  and  saw  that  the  negro  was  over  Abra.  Starlight  was  enough  to  see 
laughing  again  in  that  soundless  way.  Only  him  by,  for  he  glimmered  with  running 
for  a  moment;  then  he  turned,  and,  lean-  sweat  even  in  the  semidarkness,  but  it  was 
ing  over  the  withers  of  his  mount,  the  mare  plain  from  his  high  head  and  inquisitive 
lengthened,  it  seemed  to  Connor,  and  moved  muzzle  that  he  was  neither  winded  nor 
away.  down-hearted.  He  followed  Connor  like  a 
Her  hips  went  past  him,  then  her  tail,  dog  when  the  gambler  went  in  turn  to  the 
flying  out  straight  behind,  a  streak  of  mare.  She  turned  about  nervously  to  watch 
silver;  and  last  of  all,  there  was  the  hiss  the  newcomer.  Not  until  Abra  had  touched 
of  derision  from  Joseph  whistling  back  to  noses  with  her  and  perhaps  spoken  to  her 
him.  the  dumb  horse-talk  would  she  allow  Con- 
Connor  threw  himself  back  into  the  sad-  nor  to  come  close,  and  even  then  he  could 
die  and  brought  the  stallion  down  to  a  mod-  not  see  her  as  clearly  as  the  stallion.  By 


220 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


running  his  fingertips  over  her  he  discov- 
ered the  reason — only  on  the  flanks  and 
across  the  breast  was  she  wet  with  perspi- 
ration, and  barely  moist  on  the  thighs  and 
belly.  The  race  had  winded  her  no  more 
than  a  six-furlong  canter. 

He  was  still  marveling  at  this  discovery 
when  Joseph  appeared  under  the  arch  car- 
rying a  lantern  and  beckoned  him  in,  lead- 
ing the  way  to  a  large  patio,  surrounded  by 
a  continuous  arcade.  In  the  center  a  foun- 
tain was  alternately  silver  and  shadow  in 
the  swinging  lantern  light.  The  floor  of 
the  patio  was  close-shaven  turf. 

Joseph  hung  the  lantern  on  the  inside  of 
one  of  the  arches  and  turned  to  Connor, 
apparently  to  invite  him  to  take  one  of  the 
chairs  under  the  arcade.  Instead,  he  raised 
his  hand  to  impose  silence.  Connor  heard, 
from  some  distance,  a  harsh  sound  of 
breathing  of  inconceivable  strength.  For 
though  it  was  plainly  not  close  to  them, 
he  could  mark  each  intake  and  expulsion 
of  breath.  And  the  noise  created  for  him 
the  picture  of  a  monster. 

"  Let  us  go  to  the  master,"  said  Joseph, 
and  turned  straight  across  the  patio  in  the 
direction  of  that  sonorous  breathing. 

Connor  followed,  by  no  means  at  ease. 
From  the  withered  negroes  to  huge  Joseph 
had  been  a  long  step.  How  far  would  be 
the  reach  between  Joseph  himself  and  the 
omnipotent  master? 

He  passed  in  the  track  of  Joseph  toward 
the  rear  of  the  patio.  Presently  the  big 
negro  halted,  removed  his  hat,  and  faced 
a  door  beneath  the  arcade.  It  was  only  a 
momentary  interruption.  He  went  on  again 
at  once,  replacing  his  hat,  but  the  thrill  of 
apprehension  was  still  tingling  in  the  blood 
of  the  gambler.  Now  they  went  under  the 
arcade,  through  an  open  door,  and  issued  in 
the  rear  of  the  house,  Connor's  imaginary 
"  monster  "  dissolved. 

For  they  stood  in  front  of  a  blacksmith 
shop,  the  side  toward  them  being  entirely 
open  so  that  Connor  could  see  the  whole 
of  the  interior.  Two  sooty  lanterns  hung 
from  the  rafters,  the  light  tangling  among 
wreaths  of  smoke  above  and  showing  below 
a  man  whose  back  was  turned  toward  them 
as  he  worked  a  great  snoring  bellows  with 
one  hand. 


That  bellows  was  the  source  of  the  mys- 
terious breathing.  Connor  chuckled;  all 
mysteries  dissolved  as  this  had  done  the 
moment  one  confronted  them.  He  left  off 
chuckling  to  admire  the  ease  with  which 
the  blacksmith  handled  the  bellows.  A 
massive  angle  of  iron  was  buried  in  the 
forge,  the  white  flames  spurting  around  it 
as  the  bellows  blew,  casting  the  smith  into 
high  relief  at  every  pulse  of  the  fire.  Some- 
times it  ran  on  the  great  muscles  of  the 
arm  that  kept  the  bellows  in  play;  some- 
times it  ran  a  dazzling  outline  around  his 
entire  body,  showing  the  leather  apron  and 
the  black  hair  which  flooded  down  about 
his  shoulders. 

"  Who—"  began  Connor. 

"  Hush,"  cautioned  Joseph  in  a  whisper. 
'  David    speaks    when    he    chooses — not 
sooner." 

Here  the  smith  laid  hold  on  the  iron  with 
long  pincers,  and,  raising  it  from  the  coals, 
at  once  the  shop  burst  with  white  light  as 
David  placed  the  iron  on  the  anvil  and 
caught  up  a  short-handled  sledge.  He 
whirled  it  and  brought  it  down  with  a 
clangor.  The  sparks  spurted  into  the  night, 
dropping  to  the  ground  and  turning  red  at 
the  very  feet  of  Connor.  Slowly  David 
turned  the  iron,  the  steady  shower  of  blows 
bending  it,  changing  it,  molding  it  under 
the  eye  of  the  gambler.  This  was  that 
clangor  which  had  floated  through  the  clear 
mountain  air  to  him  when  he  first  gazed 
down  on  the  valley;  this  was  the  bell-like 
murmur  which  had  washed  down  to  him 
through  the  gates  of  the  valley. 

At  least  it  was  easy  to  understand  why 
the  negroes  feared  him.  A  full  fourteen 
pounds  was  in  the  head  of  that  sledge,  Con- 
nor guessed,  yet  David  whirled  it  with  a 
light  and  deft  precision.  Only  the  shud- 
dering of  the  anvil  told  the  weight  of  those 
blows.  Meantime,  with  every  leap  of  the 
spark-showers  the  gambler  studied  the  face 
of  the  master.  They  were  features  of 
strength  rather  than  beauty  from  the  frown- 
ing forehead  to  the  craggy  jaw.  A  sort  of 
fierce  happiness  lived  in  that  face  now,  the 
thought  of  the  craftsman  and  the  joy  of  the 
laborer  in  his  strength. 

As  the  white  heat  passed  from  the  iron 
and  it  no  longer  flowed  into  a  shape  so 


THE    GARDEN'    OF    EDEN.  221 

readily  under  the  hammer  of  the  smith,  a  looked  about.  The  arcade  was  lightened 
change  came  in  him.  Connor  knew  noth-  by  a  flagging  of  crystalline  white  stone,  and 
ing  of  ironcraft,  but  he  guessed  shrewdly  the  ceiling  was  inlaid  with  the  same  mate- 
that  another  man  would  have  softened  the  rial.  But  the  arches  and  the  wall  of  the 
metal  with  fire  again  at  this  point.  Instead,  building  were  of  common  dobe,  massive, 
David  chose  to  soften  it  with  strength,  but  roughly  built. 

The  steady  patter  of  blows  increased  to  a  Beyond  the  fountain  nodded  like  a  ghost 

thundering  rain  as  the  iron  turned  a  dark  in  the  patio,  and  now  and  then,  when  the 

and  darker  red.  lantern  was  swayed  by  the  wind,  the  pool 

The  rhythm  of  the  worker  grew  swifter,  glinted  and  was  black  again.     The  silence 

did  not  break,  and  Connor  watched  with  a  was  beginning  to  make  him  feel  more  than 

keen  eye  of  appreciation.    Just  as  a  great  ever  like  an  unwelcome  guest  when  another 

thoroughbred  makes  its  supreme  effort  in  old  negro  came,   and   Connor  noted  with 

the   stretch    by   a   lengthening  and   slight  growing  wonder  the   third  of  these  black 

quickening  of  stride,  but  never  a  dropping  ancients.    Each  of  them  must  have  been  in 

into  the  choppy  pace  of  unskilled  labor  at  youth  a  fine  specimen  of  manhood.     Even 

speed,  so  the*  man  at  the  anvil  was  now  in  white-headed  age  they  retained  some  of 

rocking  steadily  back  and  forth  from  heel  that  noble  countenance  which  remains  to 

to  toe,  the  knees  unflexing  a  little  as  he  those  who  have  once  been  strong.     This 

struck  and  stiffening  as  he  swung  up  the  fellow  bore  a  tray  upon  his  arm,  and  in  the 

hammer.     The  greater  effort  was  told  only  free  hand  carried  a  large  yellow  cloth  of  a 

by  the  greater  ring  of  the  hammer  face  on  coarse  weave. 

the  hardening  iron — by  that  and  by  the  He    placed    on    the     table    a    wooden 

shudder  of  the  arm  of  the  smith  as  the  trencher  with  a  great  loaf  of  white  bread,  a 

fourteen  pounds  went  clanging  home  to  the  cone  of  clear  honey,  and  an  earthen  pitcher 

stroke.  of  milk.    Next  he  put  a  wooden  bowl  on  a 

And  now  the  iron  was  quite  dark — the  chair  beside  Connor,  and  when  the  latter 

smith    stood    with    the    ponderous    sledge  obediently  extended  his  hand,  the  old  negro 

poised  above  his  head  and  turned  the  bar  poured  warm  water  over  them  and  dried 

swiftly,  with  study,  to  see  that  the  angle  them  with  a  napkin, 

was  exactly  what  he  wished.  The  hammer  There  was  a  ceremony  about  this  that 

did   not   descend   again   on   the  iron;    the  fitted  perfectly  with  the  surroundings,  and 

smith  was  content,  and  plunging  the  big  Connor   became   thoughtful.      He    was   to 

angle  iron  into  the  tempering  tub,  his  burly  tempt  the  master  with  the  wealth  of  the 

shoulders  were  obscured  for  a  moment  by  a  world,  but  what  could  he  give  the  man  to 

rising  cloud  of  steam.  replace  this  Homeric  comfort? 

He  stepped  out  of  this  and  came  directly  In    the   midst   of   these  reflections  soft 

to  them.    Now  the  lantern  was  behind  him,  steps    approached    him,    and   he   saw    the 

he  was  silhouetted  in  black,  a  mighty  figure,  brown-faced  David  coming  in  a  shapeless 

He  was  panting  from  his  labor,  and  the  blouse  and   trousers  of  rough  cloth,   with 

heavy  sound  of  his  breathing  disturbed  the  moccasins  on  his  feet.     Rising  to  meet  his 

gambler.     He  had  expected  to  find  a  wise  host,  he  was  surprised  to  find  that  David 

and  simple  old  man  in  David.    Instead,  he  had  no  advantage  in  height  and  a  small  one 

was  face  to  face  with  a  Hercules.  in  breadth  of  shoulder  in  the  blacksmith 

His   attention   was   directed   entirely   to  shop;  he  had  seemed  a  giant.    The  brown 

Joseph.  man  stopped  beside  the  table.    He  seemed 

"  I  come  from  my  work  unclean,"  he  to  be  around  thirty,  but  because  of  the  un- 
said. "  Joseph,  take  the  stranger  within  wrinkled  forehead  Connor  decided  that  he 
and  wait.''  was  probably  five  years  older. 

Joseph  led  back  into  the  patio  to  a  plain  "  I  am  David,"  he  said,  without  offering 

wooden  table  beside  which  Connor,  at  the  his  hand. 

gesture    of    invitation,    sat    down.      Here  "  I,"  said  the  gambler,  "  am  Benjamin." 

Joseph  left  him  hurriedly,  and  the  gambler  There  was  a  flash  that  might  have  been 


222  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 

either  pleasure  or  suspicion  in  the  face  of  "  You  will  see,"  said  David,  "  both  its 

David.  size  and  weight." 

-"  Joseph  has  told  me  what  has  passed  And  Connor  knew;  it  was  an  exchange 

between  you,"  he  said.  for  the  ivory  head.     He  laid  the  nugget 

"  I  hope  he's  broken  no  law  by  letting  carelessly   back   upon   the   table,   thankful 

me  come  in."  that  the  gift  had  been  offered  with  such 

"  My  will  is  the  law;  in  disregarding  me  suspicious  bluntness. 

he  has  broken  a  law."  "  It   is  a   fine   specimen,"   he  repeated, 

He  made  a  sign  above  his  shoulder  that  "  but  I  am  not  collecting." 

brought  Joseph  hurrying  out  of  the  gloom,  There  was  a  heavy  cloud  on  the  face  of 

his  keen  little  eyes  fastened  upon  the  face  David  as  he  took  up  the  nugget  and  passed 

of    the    master    with    intolerable    anxiety,  it  into  the  hand  of  the  waiting  servant;  but 

There  was  another  sign  from  David,  and  his  glance  was  for  Joseph,  not  Connor, 

the   negro,   without   a  glance   at   Connor,  The  negro  burst  into  speech  for  the  first 

snatched  the  ivory  head  out  of  his  pocket,  time,  and  the  words  tumbled  out. 

thrust  it  upon  the  table,  and  stood  back,  '  I  do  not  want  it.     I  shall  not  keep  it. 

watching  the  brown  man  with  fascination.  See,  David;  I  give  it  up  to  him!"    He  made 

"  You  see,"  went  on  David,  "  that  he  re-  a  gesture  with  both  hands  as  though  he 

turns   to  you   the   price  which  you  paid  would  push  away  the  ape-head  forever, 

him.    Therefore  you  have  no  longer  a  right  The  master  looked  earnestly  at  Connor. 

to  remain  in  the  Garden  of  Eden."  "  You  hear?" 

Connor  flushed.  "  If  this  were  a  price,"  The  latter  shrugged  his  shoulders,  say- 
he  answered,  clinging  as  closely  as  he  ing:  "  I've  never  taken  back  a  gift,  and  I 
could  to  language  as  simple  and  direct  as  can't  begin  now." 

that  of  David,  "  it  could  be  returned  to  Connor's  heart  was  beating  rapidly,  from 

me.    But  it  is  not  a  price.    It  is  a  gift,  and  the  excitement  of  the  strange  interview  and 

gifts  cannot  be  returned."  the  sense  of  his  narrow  escape  from  banish- 

He   held   out   the   ape-head,   and   when  ment.     Because  he  had  made  the  gift  to 

Joseph  could  see  nothing  save  the  face  of  Joseph    he    had    an    inalienable    right,    it 

David,  he  pushed  the  trinket  back  toward  seemed,     to     expect     some     return     from 

the  negro.  Joseph's  master — even  permission  to  stay 

"  Then,"  said  the  brown  man,  "  the  fault  in  the  valley,  if  he  insisted, 

which  was  small  before  is  now  grown  large."  There  was  another  of  those  uncomforta- 

He  looked  calmly  upon  Joseph,  and  the  ble  pauses,  with  the  master  looking  sternly 

giant  quailed.     By  the  table  hung  a  gong  into  the  night. 

on  which  the  master  tapped;   one  of  the  '  Zacharias,"  he  said, 

ancient  servants  appeared  instantly.  The  servant  stepped  beside  him. 

"  Go  to  my  room,"  said  David,  "  and  '  Bring  the  whip — and  the  cup." 

bring  me  the  largest  nugget  from  the  chest."  The  eyes  of  Zacharias  rolled  once  toward 

The  old  man  disappeared,  and  while  they  Joseph  and  then  he  was  gone,  running;  he 
waited  for  his  return  the  little  bright  eyes  returned  almost  instantly  with  a  seven  foot 
of  Joseph  went  to  and  fro  on  the  face  of  blacksnake,  oiled  until  it  glistened.  He  put 
the  master;  but  David  was  staring  into  the  it  in  the  hand  of  David,  but  only  when 
darkness  of  the  patio.  The  servant  brought  Joseph  stepped  back,  shuddering,  and  then 
a  nugget  of  gold,  as  large  as  the  doubled  turned  and  kneeled  before  David,  the  sig- 
fist  of  a  child,  and  the  master  rolled  it  nificance  of  that  whip  came  home  to  Con- 
across  the  table  to  Connor.  nor,  sickening  him.  The  whites  of  Joseph's 

A  tenseness  about  his  mouth   told  the  eyes  rolled  at  him  and  Connor  stepped  be- 

gambler  that  much  was  staked  on  this  ac-  tween  the  negro  and  the  whip, 

ceptance.      He   turned   the   nugget  in  his  "  Do  you  mean  this?"  he  gasped.       Do 

hand,  noting  the  discoloration  of  the  ore  you  mean  to  say  that  you  are  going  to  flog 

from  which  it  had  been  taken.  that  poor  fellow  because  he  took   a  gift 

"  It  is  a  fine  specimen,"  he  said.  from  me?" 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN. 


223 


-  From  you  it  was  a  gift,"  answered  the 
master,  perfectly  calm,  "  but  to  him  it  was 
a  price.  And  to  me  it  is  a  great  trouble." 

u  God!"  murmured  Connor. 

"  Do  you  call  on  him?"  asked  the  brown 
man  severely.  "  He  is  only  here  in  so  far 
as  I  am  the  agent  of  his  justice.  Yet  I 
trust  it  is  not  more  His  will  than  it  is  the 
will  of  David.  Also,  the  heart  of  Joseph  is 
stubborn  and  must  be  humbled.  Tears  are 
the  sign  of  contrition,  and  the  whip  shall 
not  cease  to  fall  until  Joseph  weeps." 

His  glance  pushed  Connor  back;  the 
gambler  saw  the  lash  whirled,  and  he 
turned  his  back  sharply  before  it  fell. 
Even  so,  the  impact  of  the  la^h  on  flesh  cut 
into  Connor,  for  he  had  only  to  take  back 
the  gift  to  end  the  flogging.  He  set  his 
teeth.  Could  he  give  up  his  only  hold  on 
David  and  the  Eden  Grays?  By  the  whiz- 
zing of  the  lash  he  knew  that  it  was  laid  on 
with  the  full  strength  of  that  muscular  arm. 
Now  a  horrible  murmur  from  the  throat  of 
Joseph  forced  him  to  turn  against  his  will. 

The  face  of  David  was  filled,  not  with 
anger,  but  with  cruel  disdain;  under  his 
flying  lash  the  welts  leaped  up  on  the  back 
of  Joseph,  but  the  negro,  with  his  eyes 
shut  and  his  head  strained  far  back,  en- 
dured. Only  through  his  teeth,  each  time 
he  drew  breath,  came  that  stifled  moan,  and 
he  shuddered  at  each  impact  of  the  whip. 
Now  his  eyes  opened,  and  through  the  mist 
of  pain  a  brutal  hatred  glimmered  at  Con- 
nor. That  flare  of  rage  seemed  to  sap  the 
last  of  his  strength,  for  now  his  face  con- 
vulsed, tears  flooded  down,  and  his  head 
dropped.  Instantly  the  hand  of  David 
paused. 

Something  had  snapped  in  Connor  at  the 
same  time  that  the  head  of  Joseph  fell,  and 
while  he  wiped  the  wet  from  his  face  he 
only  vaguely  saw  Joseph  hurry  down  the 
corridor,  with  Zacharias  carrying  the  whip 
behind. 

But  the  master?  There  was  neither 
cruelty  nor  anger  in  his  face  as  he  turned 
to  the  table  and  filled  with  milk  the 
wooden  cup  which  Zacharias  had  brought. 

"  This  is  my  prayer,"  he  said  quietly, 
"  that  in  the  justice  of  David  there  may 
never  be  the  poison  of  David's  wrath." 

He  drained  the  cup,  broke  a  morsel  of 


bread  from  the  loaf  and  ate  it.  Next  he 
filled  the  second  cup  and  handed  it  to  the 
gambler. 

"  Drink." 

Automatically  Connor  obeyed. 

"  Eat." 

In  turn  he  tasted  the  bread. 

"  And  now,"  said  the  master,  in  the  deep, 
calm  voice,  "  you  have  drunk  with  David 
in  his  house,  and  he  has  broken  bread  with 
you.  Hereafter  may  there  be  peace  and 
good  will  between  us.  You  have  given  a 
free  gift  to  one  of  my  people,  and  he  who 
gives  clothes  to  David's  people  keeps  David 
from  the  shame  of  nakedness;  and  he  who 
puts  bread  in  the  mouths  of  David's  serv- 
ants feeds  David  himself.  Stay  with  me, 
therefore,  Benjamin,  until  you  find  in  the 
Garden  the  thing  you  desire,  then  take  it 
and  go  your  way.  But  until  that  time, 
what  is  David's  is  Benjamin's;  your  will 
be  my  will,  and  my  way  be  your  way." 

He  paused. 

"And  now  Benjamin,  you  are  Aveary?" 

"  Very  tired." 

"  Follow  me." 

It  seemed  well  to  Connor  to  remove  him- 
self from  the  eye  of  the  master  as  soon  as 
possible.  Not  that  the  host  showed  signs 
of  anger,  but  just  as  one  looks  at  a  clear 
sky  and  forebodes  hard  weather  because  of 
misty  horizons,  so  the  gambler  guessed  the 
frown  behind  David's  eyes.  He  was  glad 
to  turn  into  the  door  which  was  opened  for 
him.  But  even  though  he  guessed  the 
danger,  Connor  could  not  refrain  from 
tempting  Providence  with  a  speech  of 
double  meaning. 

"  You  are  very  kind,"  he  said.  "  Good 
night,  David." 

"  May  God  keep  you  until  the  morning, 
Benjamin." 


CHAPTER   XII. 

HANEEMAR. 

FROM     the    house    of    David    Joseph 
skulked   down    the    terraces   until    he 
came  to   the  two  long  buildings  and 
entered  the  smaller  of  these.    He  crossed  a 
patio,   smaller  than  the  court  of   David's 
house;  but  there,  too,  was  the  fountain  in 


224  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 

the  center  and  the  cool  flooring  of  turf,  tesque  lifted  his  head.    It  at  once  fell  far 

Across  this,  and  running  under  the  dimly  back,  the  neck  muscles  apparently  unable 

lighted    arcade,    Joseph    reached    a    door  to  support  its  weight.     He  looked  more  at 

which  he  tore  open,  slammed  behind  him  the  ceiling  than  at  Joseph.    His  speech  was 

again,  and  with  his  great  head  fallen  upon  a  writhing  of  the  lips  about  the  black  hollow 

his  chest,  stared  at  a  little  withered  negro  of  the  mouth  and  the  voice  a  hollow  mur- 

who  sat  on  a  stool  opposite  the  door.     It  mur. 

\vas  rather  a  low  bench  of  wood  than  a  "  This,"  he  said,  "  is  the  face  of  a  great 
stool;  for  it  stood  not  more  than  six  inches  suhman.  It  is  the  face  of  the  great  suh- 
above  the  level  of  the  floor.  His  shoes  off,  man,  Haneemar.  It  was  many  years  ago 
and  his  bare  feet  tucked  under  his  legs,  he  that  I  knew  him.  It  was  a  time  so  long  ago 
sat  tailorwise  and  peered  up  at  the  giant,  that  I  do  not  know  how  to  tell  you.  It  was 
The  sudden  opening  of  the  door  had  set  his  before  your  birth  and  the  birth  of  your 
loose  blouse  fluttering  about  the  old  man's  father.  It  was  when  I  lived  naked  in  a 
skeleton  body.  The  sleeves  fell  back  from  green  country  where  the  air  is  thick  and 
bony  forearms  with  puckered  skin.  He  sweet  and  the  sun  burns.  There  I  knew 
was  less  a  man  than  a  receptacle  of  time.  Haneemar.  He  is  a  strong  suhman.  You 
His  temples  sank  in  like  the  temples  of  a  see,  his  eyes  are  green;  that  is  because  he 
very  old  horse;  his  toothless  mouth  was  has  the  strength  of  the  great  snake  that 
crushed  together  by  the  pressure  of  the  ties  its  tail  around  a  branch  and  hangs 
long  bony  jaw,  below  which  the  skin  hung  down  with  its  head  as  high  as  the  breast  of 
in  a  flap.  Compared  with  the  polished  a  man.  Those  snakes  kill  an  antelope  and 
ebony  of  Joseph,  his  black  skin  was  cov-  eat  it  at  a  mouthful.  Their  eyes  are  green 
ered  with  a  thick  dusting  of  gray.  But  the  and  so  are  the  eyes  of  Haneemar.  And  you 
fire  still  glimmered  in  the  hollows  of  his  see  that  Haneemar  has  golden  teeth.  That 
eyes.  A  cheerful  spirit  lived  in  the  grass-  is  because  he  has  eaten  wisdom.  He  knows 
hopper  body.  He  was  knitting  with  a  pair  the  meat  of  all  things  like  a  nut  he  can 
of  slender  needles,  never  looking  at  his  crack  between  his  teeth.  Hs  is  as  strong 
Avork,  nor  during  the  interview  with  Joseph  as  the  snake  which  eats  monkeys,  and  he  is 
did  he  once  slacken  his  pace.  The  needles  as  wise  as  the  monkeys  that  run  from  the 
clicked  with  such  swift  precision  that  the  snake  and  throw  sticks  from  the  tops  of  the 
work  grew  perceptibly,  flowing  slowly  un-  trees.  That  is  Haneemar. 
der  the  hands  of  the  negro.  "  There  is  no  luck  for  the  man  who  ear- 
Meanwhile  this  death's  head  looked  at  ries  the  face  of  Haneemar  with  him.  That 
the  giant  so  steadily  that  Joseph  seemed  to  is  why  David  used  the  whip.  He  knew 
regret  his  unceremonious  entrance.  He  Haneemar.  Also,  in  the  other  days  I  re- 
stood  back  against  the  door,  fumbling  its  member  that  when  a  child  was  sick  in  the 
knob  for  a  moment,  but  then  his  rage  mas-  village  they  tied  a  goat  in  the  forest  and 
tered  him  once  more,  and  he  burst  into  the  Haneemar  came  and  ate  the  goat.  If  he  ate 
tale  of  Connor's  coming  and  the  ivory  head,  the  goat  like  a  lion  and  left  tooth  marks  on 
He  brought  his  story  to  an  end  by  deposit-  the  bones  then  the  child  got  well  and  lived, 
ing  the  trinket  before  the  ancient  man  and  If  he  ate  the  goat  like  a  panther  and  left 
then  stood  back,  his  face  still  working,  and  the  guts  the  child  died.  But  if  the  goat 
waited  with  every  show  of  confident  curi-  was  not  eaten  for  one  day  then  Haneemar 
osity.  came  and  ate  the  child  instead.  I  remem- 
As  for  the  antique,  his  knitting  needles  ber  this.  There  will  be  no  luck  for  you 
continued  to  fly,  but  to  view  the  little  carv-  while  you  carry  Haneemar." 
ing  more  closely  he  cranned  his  skinny  neck.  The  big  negro  had  heard  this  speech  with 
At  that  moment,  with  his  fallen  features,  his  eyes  that  grew  rounder  and  rounder.  Now 
fleshless  nose,  his  wide,  deformed  mouth,  he  he  caught  up  the  little  image  and  raised 
was  a  grinning  mummy  head.  He  remained  his  arm  to  throw  it  through  the  window, 
gloating  over  the  little  image  so  long  that  But  the  old  man  hissed,  and  Joseph  turned 
Joseph  stirred  uneasily;  but  finally  the  gro-  with  a  shudder. 

4  A 


THE    GARDEN    OF   EDEN. 


225 


••  You  cannot  throw  Haneemar  away," 
said  the  other.  "  Only  when  some  one  takes 
him  freely  will  you  be  rid  of  him." 

"  It  is  true,"  answered  Joseph.  "  I  re- 
member the  white  man  would  not  take  him 
back." 

"  Then,"  said  the  old  sage,  "  if  the  white 
man  will  not  take  him  back,  bad  luck  has 
come  into  the  Garden,  for  only  the  white 
man  would  carry  Haneemar  out  again.  But 
do  not  give  Haneemar  to  one  of  our  friends, 
for  then  he  will  stay  with  us  all.  If  you 
dig  a  deep  hole  and  bury  him  in  it,  Hanee- 
mar may  not  be  able  to  get  out." 

Joseph  was  beginning  to  swell  with  wrath. 

"  The  white  man  has  put  a  curse  on  me," 
he  said.  "  Abraham,  what  shall  I  do  to 
him?  Teach  me  a  curse  to  put  on  him! " 

"Hush!"  answered  Abraham.  "Those 
who  pray  to  evil  spirits  are  the  slaves  of  the 
powers  they  pray  to." 

"  Then  I  shall  take  this  Benjamin  in  my 
hands!" 

He  made  a  gesture  as  though  he  were 
snapping  a  stick  of  dry  wood. 

"  You  are  the  greater  fool.  Is  not  this 
Benjamin,  this  stranger,  a  guest  of  the 
master?" 

"  I  shall  steal  him  away  by  night  in  such 
a  manner  that  he  shall  not  make  even  the 
noise  of  a  mouse  when  the  cat  breaks  its 
back.  I  shall  steal  him  away  and  David 
will  never  know." 

The  loose  eyelids  of  the  old  man  puck- 
ered and  his  glance  became  a  ray  of  light. 

"  The  curse  already  works;  Haneemar' 
already  is  in  your  mind,  Joseph.  David 
will  not  know?  Child,  there  is  nothing  that 
he  does  not  know.  He  uses  us.  We  are  his 
tools.  My  mind  is  to  him  as  my  hand  is 
to  me.  He  comes  inside  my  eyes;  he  knows 
what  I  think.  And  if  old  Abraham  is  noth- 
ing before  David,  what  is  Joseph?  Hush! 
Let  not  a  whisper  go  out !  Do  not  even  dare 
to  think  it.  You  have  felt  the  whip  of 
David,  but  you  have  not  felt  his  hand  when 
he  is  in  anger.  A  wounded  mountain  lion 
is  not  so  terrible  as  the  rage  of  David;  he 
would  be  to  you  as  an  ax  at  the  root  of  a 
sapling.  These  things  have  happened  be- 
fore. I  remember.  Did  not  Boram  once 
anger  John?  And  was  not  Boram  as  great 
as  Joseph?  And  did  not  John  take  Boram 
5  A 


in  his  hands  and  conquer  him  and  break 
him?  Yes,  and  David  is  a  greater  body 
and  a  stronger  hand  than  John.  Also,  his 
anger  is  as  free  as  the  running  of  an  un- 
taught colt.  Remember,  my  son!" 

Joseph  stretched  out  his  enormous  arms 
and  his  voice  was  a  broken  wail. 

"  Oh,  Abraham,  Abraham,  what  shall  I 
do?" 

"  Wait,"  said  the  old  man  quietly.  "  For 
waiting  makes  the  spirit  strong.  Look  at 
Abraham!  His  body  has  been  dead  these 
twenty  years,  but  still  his  spirit  lives." 

"  But  the  curse  of  Haneemar,  Abraham?" 

"  Haneemar  is  patient.  Let  Joseph  be 
patient  also." 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

THE   MIRACLE. 

CONNOR  wakened  in  the  gray  hour  of 
the  morning,  but  beyond  the  window 
the  world  was  much  brighter  than  his 
room.  The  pale  terraces  went  down  to  scat- 
tered trees,  and  beyond  the  trees  was  the 
water  of  the  lake.  Farther  still  the  moun- 
tains rolled  up  into  a  brighter  morning.  A 
horse  neighed  out  of  the  dawn;  the  sound 
came  ringing  to  Connor,  and  he  was  sud- 
denly eager  to  be  outside. 

In  the  patio  the  fountain  was  still  play- 
ing. As  for  the  house,  he  found  it  far  less 
imposing  than  it  had  been  when  lantern 
light  picked  out  details  here  and  there. 
The  walls  and  the  clumsy  arches  were  the 
disagreeable  color  of  dried  mud  and  all  un- 
der the  arcade  was  dismal  shadow.  But 
the  lawn  was  already  a  faintly  shining 
green,  and  the  fountain  went  up  above  the 
ground  shadow  in  a  column  of  light.  He 
passed  on.  The  outside  wall  had  that  squat, 
crumbling  appearance  which  every  one 
knows  who  has  been  in  Mexico — and 
through  an  avenue  of  trees  he  saw  the  two 
buildings  between  which  he  had  ridden  the 
night  before.  From  the  longer  a  negro  was 
leading  one  of  the  gray  horses.  This,  then, 
was  the  stable;  the  building  opposite  it  was 
a  duplicate  on  a  smaller  scale  of  the  house 
of  David,  and  must  be  the  servants'  quar- 
ters. 

Connor  went  on  toward  a  hilltop  which 


226  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

alone  topped  the  site  of  the  master's  house;  tunity  to  see  David  and  remain  unseen.  He 
the  crest  was  naked  of  trees,  and  over  the  realized  that  the  evening  before  it  had  been 
tops  of  the  surrounding  ones  Connor  found  difficult  to  look  directly  into  David's  face, 
that  he  commanded  a  complete  view  of  the  He  had  carried  away  little  more  than  im- 
valley.  The  day  before,  looking  from  the  pressions;  of  strength,  dignity,  a  surface 
far-off  mountaintop,  it  had  seemed  to  be  a  calm  and  strong  passions  under  it;  but  now 
straight  line  very  nearly,  from  the  north  he  was  able  to  see  the  face.  It  was  full  of 
to  the  south;  now  he  saw  that  from  the  cen-  contradiction;  a  profile  irregular  and  deeply 
ter  both  ends  swung  westward.  The  val-  cut,  but  the  full  face  had  a  touch  of  no- 
ley  might  be  twelve  miles  long,  and  two  or  bility  that  made  it  almost  handsome, 
three  wide,  fenced  by  an  unbroken  wall  of  As  he  watched,  Connor  thought  he  de- 
cliffs.  Over  the  northern  barrier  poured  a  tected  a  growing  excitement  in  David — his 
white  line  of  water,  which  ran  on  through  head  was  raised,  his  smile  had  deepened. ' 
the  valley  in  a  river  that  widened  above  Perhaps  he  came  here  to  rejoice  in  his  pos- 
David's  house  into  a  spacious  lake  three  or  sessions;  but  a  moment  later  Connor  real- 
four  miles  long.  The  river  began  again  ized  that  this  could  not  be  the  case,  for 
from  the  end  of  the  lake  and  continued  the  gaze  of  the  other  must  be  fixed  as  high 
straight  to  the  base  of  the  southern  cliffs,  as  the  mountain  peaks. 
Roads  followed  the  swing  of  the  river  closely  At  that  instant  came  the  revelation;  there 
on  each  side,  and  the  stream  was  bridged  was  a  stiffening  of  the  whole  body  of  David; 
at  each  end  of  the  lake.  His  angle  of  his  breast  filled  and  he  swayed  forward  and 
vision  was  so  small  that  both  extremities  raised  almost  on  tiptoe.  Connor,  by  sym- 
of  the  valley  seemed  a  solid  forest,  but  in  pathy,  grew  tense — and  then  the  miracle 
the  central  portion  he  made  out  broad  happened.  Over  the  face  of  David  fell  a 
meadow  lands  and  plowed  fields  checkering  sudden  radiance.  His  hair,  dull  black  the 
the  groves.  The  house,  as  he  had  guessed  moment  before,  now  glistened  with  light, 
the  evening  before,  stood  into  the  lake  on  and  the  swarthy  skin  became  a  shining 
a  slender  peninsula.  And  due  west  a  narrow  bronze;  his  lips  parted  as  though  he  drank 
slit  of  light  told  of  the  gate  into  the  Garden,  in  strength  and  happiness  out  of  that  mirac- 
It  gave  him  a  curiously  confused  emotion,  as  ulous  light, 
of  a  prisoner  and  spy  in  one.  The  hard-headed  Connor  was  staggered. 

He  had  walked  back  almost  to  the  edge  Back  on  his  mind  rushed  a  score  of  details, 
of  the  clearing  when  David,  from  the  other  the  background  of  this  picture.  He  remem- 
side,  went  up  to  the  crest  of  the  hill.  Con-  bered  the  almost  superhuman  strength  of 
nor  was  already  among  the  trees  and  he  Joseph;  he  saw  again  the  old  negroes  with- 
watched  unobserved.  The  master  of  the  ering  with  many  years,  but  still  bright-eyed, 
Garden,  at  the  top  of  the  hill,  paused  and  straight  and  agile.  Perhaps  they,  too,  knew 
turned  toward  Connor.  The  gambler  how  to  stand  here  and  drink  in  a  mysterious 
flushed;  he  was  about  to  step  out  and  hail  light  which  filled  their  outworn  bodies  with 
his  host  when  a  second  thought  assured  him  youth  of  the  spirit,  at  least.  And  David? 
that  he  could  not  have  been  noticed  behind  Was  not  this  the  reason  that  he  scorned  the 
that  screen  of  shrubbery  and  trunks;  more-  world?  Here  was  his  treasure  past  reckon- 
over  the  glance  of  David  Eden  passed  high  ing,  this  fountain  of  youth.  Here  was  the 
above  him.  It  might  have  been  the  cry  explanation,  too,  of  that  intolerable  bright- 
of  a  hawk  that  made  him  turn  so  sharply;  ness  of  his  eye.  The  gambler  bowed  his 
but  through  several  minutes  he  remained  head. 

without  moving  either  hand  or  head,  and  as  When  he  looked  up  again  his  soul  had 

though  he  were  waiting.    Even  in  the  dis-  traveled  higher  and  lower  in  one  instant 

tance  Connor  marked  the  smile  of  happy  than  it  had  ever  moved  before;    he  was 

expectation.    If  it  had  been  another  place  staring  like  a  child.    Above  all,  he  wanted 

and    another    man    Connor    would    have  to  see  the  face  of  David  again,  to  examine 

thought  it  a  lover  waiting  for  his  mistress,  that  mysterious  change,  but  the  master  was 

But,  above  all,  he  was  glad  of  the  oppor-  already  walking  down  the  hill  and  had  al- 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


227 


most  reached  the  circle  of  the  trees  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  slope.  But  now  Con- 
nor noted  a  difference  everywhere  surround- 
ing him.  The  air  was  warmer;  the  wind 
seemed  to  have  changed  its  fiber;  and  then 
he  saw  that  the  treetops  opposite  him  were 
shaking  and  glistening  in  a  glory  of  light. 
Connor  went  limp  and  leaned  against  a 
tree,  laughing  weakly,  silently. 

"  Hell,"  he  said  at  length,  recovering  him- 
self. "  It  was  only  the  sunrise!  And  me — 
I  thought—" 

He  began  to  laugh  again,  aloud,  and  the 
sound  was  caught  up  by  the  hillside  and 
thrown  back  at  him  in  a  sharp  echo.  Con- 
nor went  thoughtfully  back  to  the  house. 
In  the  patio  he  found  the  table  near  the 
fountain  laid  with  a  cloth,  the  wood 
scrubbed  white,  and  on  it  the  heavy  earth- 
enware. David  Eden  came  in  with  the 
calm,  the  same  eye,  difficult  to  meet.  In- 
deed, then  and  thereafter  when  he  was 
with  David,  he  found  himself  continually 
looking  away,  and  resorting  to  little  man- 
euvers to  divert  the  glance  of  his  host. 

"  Good  morrow,"  said  David. 

"  I  have  kept  you  waiting?"  asked  Con- 
nor. 

The  master  paused  to  make  sure  that  he 
had  understood  the  speech,  then  replied: 

"  If  I  had  been  hungry  I  should  have 
eaten." 

There  was  no  rebuff  in  that  quiet  state- 
ment', but  it  opened  another  door  to  Con- 
nor's understanding. 

"  Take  this  chair,"  said  David,  moving 
it  from  the  end  of  the  table  to  the  side. 
"  Sitting  here  you  can  look  through  the 
gate  of  the  patio  and  down  to  the  lake.  It 
is  not  pleasant  to  have  four  walls  about 
one;  but  that  is  a  thing  which  Isaac  cannot 
understand." 

The  gambler  nodded,  and  to  show  that 
he  could  be  as  unceremonious  as  his  host, 
sat  down  without  further  words.  He  im- 
mediately felt  awkward,  for  David  re- 
mained standing.  He  broke  a  morsel  from 
the  loaf  of  bread,  which  was  yet  the  only 
food  on  the  table,  and  turned  to  the  East 
with  a  solemn  face. 

"  Out  of  His  hands  from  whom  I  take 
this  food,"  said  the  master — "  into  His 
hands  I  give  myself." 


He  sat  down  in  turn,  and  Isaac  came  in- 
stantly with  the  breakfast.  It  was  an  as- 
tonishing menu  to  one  accustomed  to  toast 
and  coffee  for  the  morning  meal.  On  a 
great  wooden  platter  which  occupied  half 
the  surface  of  the  table,  Isaac  put  down 
two  chickens,  roasted  brown.  A  horn- 
handled  hunting  knife,  razor  sharp,  was  the 
only  implement  at  each  place,  and  fingers 
must  serve  as  forks.  To  David  that  was  a 
small  impediment.  Under  the  deft  edge  of 
his  knife  the  breast  of  one  chicken  divided 
rapidly;  he  ate  the  white  slices  like  bread. 
Indeed,  the  example  was  easy  to  follow; 
the  mountain  air  had  given  him  a  vigorous 
appetite,  and  when  Connor  next  looked  up 
it  was  at  the  sound  of  glass  tinkling.  He 
saw  Isaac  holding  toward  the  master  a  buck- 
et of  water  in  which  a  bottle  was  immersed 
almost  to  the  cork;  David  tried  the  tem- 
perature of  the  water  with  his  fingers  with 
a  critical  air,  and  then  nodded  to  Isaac, 
who  instantly  drew  the  cork.  A  moment 
later  red  wine  was  trickling  into  Connor's 
cup.  He  viewed  it  with  grateful  astonish- 
ment, but  David,  poising  his  cup,  looked 
across  at  his  guest  with  a  puzzled  air. 

"  In  the  old  days,"  he  said  gravely, 
"  when  my  masters  drank  they  spoke  to  one 
another  in  a  kindly  fashion.  It  is  now  five 
years  since  a  man  has  sat  at  my  table,  and 
I  am  moved  to  say  this  to  you,  Benjamin: 
it  is  pleasant  to  speak  to  another  not  as  a 
master  who  must  be  obeyed,  but  as  an 
equal  who  may  be  answered,  and  this  is  my 
wish,  that  if  I  have  doubts  of  Benjamin, 
and  unfriendly  thoughts,  they  may  disap- 
pear with  the  wine  we  drink." 

"  Thank  you,"  said  Connor,  and  a  thrill 
went  through  him  as  he  met  the  eye  of 
David.  "  That  wish  is  my  wish  also — and 
long  life  to  you,  David." 

There  was  a  glint  of  pleasure  in  the  face 
of  David,  and  they  drank  together. 

"  By  Heaven,"  cried  Connor,  putting 
down  the  cup,  "  it  is  Medoc!  It  is  Chateau 
Lafite,  upon  my  life!" 

He  tasted  it  again. 

"  And  the  vintage  of  '96!    Is  that  true?" 

David  shook  his  head. 

"  I  have  never  heard  of  Medoc  or  Cha- 
teau Lafite." 

"  At  least,"  said  Connor,  raising  his  cup 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


and  breathing  the  delicate  bouquet,  "  this 
wine  is  Bordeaux  you  imported  from 
France?  The  grapes  which  made  this  never 
grew  outside  of  the  Gironde!" 

But  David  smiled. 

"  In  the  north  of  the  Garden,"  he  said, 
"  there  are  some  low  rolling  hills,  Benja- 
min; and  there  the  grapes  grow  from  which 
we  make  this  wine." 

Connor  tasted  the  claret  again.  His  re- 
spect for  David  had  suddenly  mounted;  the 
hermit  seemed  nearer  to  him. 

"  You  grew  these  grapes  in  your  valley?" 
he  repeated  softly. 

"  This  very  bottle  we  are  drinking,"  said 
David,  warming  to  the  talk.  "  I  remember 
when  the  grapes  of  this  vintage  were 
picked;  I  was  a  boy,  then." 

"  I  believe  it,"  answered  Connor  solemn- 
ly, and  he  raised  the  cup  with  a  reverent 
hand,  so  that  the  sun  filtered  into  the  red 
and  filled  the  liquid  with  dancing  points  of 
light. 

"  It  is  a  full  twenty  years  old." 

"  It  is  twenty-five  years  old,  said  David 
calmly,  "  and  this  is  the  best  vintage  in  ten 
years."  He  sighed.  "  It  is  now  in  its  per- 
fect prime  and  next  year  it  will  not  be  the 
same.  You  shall  help  me  finish  the  stock, 
Benjamin." 

"  You  need  not  urge  me,"  smiled  Connor. 
:  He  shook  his  head  again. 

"  But  that  is  one  wine  I  could  have 
vowed  I  knew  —  Medoc.  At  least,  I  can 
tell  you  the  soil  it  grows  in." 

The  brows  of  the  host  raised;  he  began 
to  listen  intently. 

"It  is  a  mixture  of  gravel,  quartz  and 
sand,  continued  Connor. 

"True!"  exclaimed  David,  and  looked 
at  his  guest  with  new  eyes. 

"  And  two  feet  underneath  there  is  a 
stone  for  subsoil  which  is  a  sort  of  sand  or 
fine  gravel  cemented  together." 

David  struck  his  hands  together,  frankly 
delighted. 

"  This  is  marvelous,"  he  said,  "  I  would 
say  you  have  seen  the  hills." 

"  I  paid  a  price  for  what  I  know,"  said 
Connor  rather  gloomily.  "  But  north  of 
Bordeaux  in  France  there  is  a  strip  of  land 
called  the  Medoc — the  finest  wine  soil  in 
the  world,  and  there  I  learned  what  claret 


may  be — there  I  tasted  Chateau  Lafite  and 
Chateau  Datour.  They  are  both  grown  in 
the  commune  of  Pauillac." 

"  France?"  echoed  David,  with  the  misty 
eyes  of  one  who  speaks  of  a  lost  world. 
"  Ah,  you  have  traveled?" 

"  Wherever  fine  horses  race,"  said  Con- 
nor, and  turned  back  to  the  chicken. 

"  Think,"  said  David  suddenly,  "  for  five 
years  I  have  lived  in  silence.  There  have 
been  voices  about  me,  but  never  mind;  and 
now  you  here,  and  already  you  have  taken 
me  at  a  step  half-way  around  the  world. 

"  Ah,  Benjamin,  it  is  possible  for  an 
emptiness  to  be  in  a  manlike  hunger,  you 
understand,  and  yet  different — and  nothing 
but  a  human  voice  can  fill  the  space." 

"  Have  you  no  wish  to  leave  your  valley 
for  a  little  while  and  see  the  world?"  said 
Connor,  carelessly. 

He  watched  gloomily,  while  an  expres- 
sion of  strong  distaste  grew  on  the  face  of 
David.  He  was  still  frowning  when  he  an- 
swered : 

"  We  will  not  speak  of  it  again." 

He  jerked  his  head  up  and  cleared  away 
his  frown  with  an  effort. 

"  To  speak  with  one  man  in  the  Gar- 
den— that  is  one  thing,"  he  went  on,  "  but 
to  hear  the  voices  of  two  jabbering  and 
gibbering  together — grinning  like  mindless 
creatures — throwing  their  hands  out  to  help 
their  words,  as  poor  Joseph  does— bah,  it 
is  like  drinking  new  wine;  it  makes  one's 
head  swim  and  the  stomach  stick." 

"  Five  times?"  said  Connor.  "  You  have 
traveled  a  good  deal,  then?" 

"  Too  much,"  sighed  David.  "  And 
each  time  I  returned  from  Parkin  Crossing 
I  have  cared  less  for  what  lies  outside  the 
valley." 

"  Parkin  Crossing?" 

"  I  have  been  told  that  there  are  five 
hundred  people  in  the  city,"  said  David, 
pronouncing  the  number  slowly.  "  But 
when  I  was  there  I  was  never  able  to  count 
more  than  fifty,  I  believe." 

Connor  found  it  necessary  to  cough. 

"  And  each  time  you  have  left  the  valley 
you  have  gone  no  farther  than  Parkin 
Crossing?"  he  asked  mildly,  his  spirits 
rising. 

"  And  is  not  that  far  enough?"  replied 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN. 


229 


the  master,  frowning.  "It  is  a  ride  be- 
tween dawn  and  dark." 

"  What  is  that  in  miles?" 

"  A  hundred  and  thirty  miles,"  said 
David,  "  or  thereabout." 

Connor  closed  his  eyes  twice  and  then: 
"  You  rode  that  distance  between  dawn  and 
dark?" 

"  Yes.'1 

"  Over  these  mountains  most  of  the 
way?"  he  continued  gently. 

"  About  half  the  distance,"  answered 
David. 

"  And  how  long  " — queried  Connor 
hoarsely — "  how  long  before  your  horse 
was  able  to  make  the  trip  back  after  you 
had  ridden  a  hundred  and  thirty  miles  in 
twelve  hours?" 

"  The  next  day,"  said  David,  "  I  always 
return." 

"  In  the  same  time?" 

"  In  the  same  time,"  said  David. 

To  doubt  that  simple  voice  was  impos- 
sible. But  Connor  knew  horses,  and  his 
credence  was  strained  to  the  breaking  point. 

"  I  should  like  very  much,"  he  said,  "  to 
see  a  horse  that  had  covered  two  hundred 
and  sixty  miles  within  forty-eight  hours." 

"  Thirty-six,"  corrected  David. 

Connor  swallowed. 

"  Thirty-six,"  he  murmured  faintly. 

"  I  shall  send  for  him,"  said  the  master, 
and  struck  the  little  gong  which  stood  on 
one  side  of  the  table.  Isaac  came  hurrying 
with  that  light  step  which  made  Connor 
forget  his  age. 

"  Bring  Glani,"  said  David. 

Isaac  hurried  across  the  patio,  and  David 
continued  talking  to  his  guest. 

"  Glani  is  not  friendly;  but  you  can  see 
him  from  a  distance." 

"  And  yet,"  said  Connor,  "  the  other 
horses  in  the  Garden  seem  as  friendly  as 
pet  dogs.  Is  Glani  naturally  vicious?" 

"  His  is  of  other  blood,"  replied  David. 
"  He  is  the  blood  of  the  great  mare  Rustir, 
and  all  in  her  line  are  meant  for  one  man 
only.  He  is  more  proud  than  all  the  rest." 

He  leaned  back  in  his  chair  and  his  face, 
naturally  stern,  grew  tender. 

"  Since  he  was  foaled  no  hand  has 
touched  him  except  mine;  no  other  has 
ridden  him,  groomed  him,  fed  him." 


"  I'll  be  glad  to  see  him,"  said  Connor 
quietly.  "  For  I  have  never  yet  found  a 
horse  which  would  not  come  to  my  hand." 

As  he  spoke,  he  looked  straight  into  the 
eyes  of  David,  with  an  effort,  and  at  the 
same  time  took  from  the  pocket  of  his  coat 
a  little  bulbous  root  which  was  always  with 
him.  A  Viennese  who  came  from  a  life 
half  spent  in  the  Orient  had  given  him  a 
small  box  of  those  herbs  as  a  priceless 
present.  For  the  secret  was  that  when  the 
root  was  rubbed  over  the  hands  it  left  a 
faint  odor  on  the  skin,  like  freshly  cut  ap- 
ples; and  to  a  horse  that  perfume  was  ir- 
resistible. They  seemed  to  find  in  it  a  pic- 
ture of  sweet  clover,  blossoming,  and  clean 
oats  finely  headed;  yet  to  the  nostrils  of  a 
man  the  scent  was  barely  perceptible. 
Under  cover  of  the  table  the  gambler 
rubbed  his  hands  swiftly  with  the  little  root 
and  dropped  it  back  into  his  pocket.  That 
was  the  secret  of  the  power  over  Abra 
which  had  astonished  the  two  old  negroes 
at  the  gate.  A  hundred  times,  in  stable  and 
paddock,  Connor  had  gone  up  to  the  most 
intractable  race  horses  and  looked  them 
over  at  close  hand,  at  his  leisure.  The 
master  seemed  in  nowise  disturbed  by  the 
last  remark  of  Connor. 

"  That  is  true  of  old  Abraham,  also,"  he 
said.  "  There  was  never  a  cold  foaled  in 
the  valley  which  Abraham  had  not  been 
able  to  call  away  from  its  mother;  he  can 
read  the  souls  of  them  all  with  a  touch  of 
his  withered  hands.  Yes,  I  have  seen  that 
twenty  times.  But  with  Glani  it  is  differ- 
ent. He  is  as  proud  as  a  man;  he  is  fierce 
as  a  wolf;  and  Abraham  himself  cannot 
touch  the  neck  of  my  horse.  Look!" 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

THE    CONQUEST. 

UNDER  the  arch  of  the  entrance  Con- 
nor saw  a  gray  stallion,  naked  of 
halter  or  rope,  with  his  head  raised. 
From  the  shadow7  he  came  shining  into  the 
sunlight;  the  wind  raised  his  mane  and  tail 
in  ripples  of  silver.    Ben  Connor  rose  slow- 
ly from  his  chair.    Horses  were  religion  to 
him;  he  felt  now  that  he  had  stepped  into 
the  inner  shrine. 


230 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


When  he  was  able  to  speak  he  turned 
slowly  toward  David.  "  Sir,"  he  said 
hoarsely,  "  that  is  the  greatest  horse  ever 
bred." 

It  was  far  more  than  a  word  of  praise; 
it  was  a  confession  of  faith  which  sur- 
rounded the  moment  and  the  stallion  with 
solemnity,  and  David  flushed  like  a  proud 
boy. 

"  There  he  stands,"  he  said.  "Now 
make  him  come  to  your  hand." 

It  recalled  Connor  to  his  senses,  that 
challenge,  and  feeling  that  his  mind  had 
been  snatched  away  from  him  for  a  mo- 
ment, almost  that  he  had  been  betrayed,  he 
looked  at  David  with  a  pale  face. 

"  He  is  too  far  away,"  he  said.  "  Bring 
him  closer." 

There  was  one  of  those  pauses  which 
often  come  before  crises,  and  Connor  knew 
that  by  the  outcome  of  this  test  he  would 
be  judged  either  a  man  or  a  cheap  boaster. 

"  I  shall  do  this  thing,"  said  the  master 
of  the  Garden  of  Eden.  If  you  bring  Glani 
to  your  hand  I  shall  give  him  to  you  to 
ride  while  you  stay  in  the  valley.  Listen! 
No  other  man  had  so  much  as  laid  a  hand 
on  the  withers  of  Glani,  but  if  you  can 
make  him  come  to  you  of  his  own  free 
will—" 

"  No,"  said  Connor  calmly.  "  I  shall 
make  him  come  because  my  will  is  stronger 
than  his." 

"  Impossible!"  burst  out  David. 

He  controlled  himself  and  looked  at  Con- 
nor with  an  almost  wistful  defiance. 

"  I  hold  to  this,"  he  said.  "  If  you  can 
bring  Glani  to  your  hand,  he  is  yours  while 
you  stay  in  the  Garden — for  my  part,  I 
shall  find  another  mount." 

Connor  slipped  his  right  hand  into  his 
pocket  and  crushed  the  little  root  against 
the  palm. 

"  Come  hither,  Glani,"  commanded  the 
master.  The  stallion  came  up  behind 
David's  chair,  looking  fearlessly  at  the 
stranger. 

"  Now,"  said  David  with  scorn.  "  This 
is  your  time." 

"  I  accept  it,"  replied  Connor. 

He  drew  his  hand  from  his  pocket,  and 
leaning  over  the  table,  he  looked  straight 
into  the  eye  of  the  stallion.  But  in  reality, 


it  was  only  to  bring  that  right  hand  closer; 
the  wind  was  stirring  behind  him,  and  he 
knew  that  it  wafted  the  scent  of  the  myste- 
rious root  straight  to  Glani. 

"  That  is  impossible,"  said  David,  fol- 
lowing the  glance  of  Connor  with  a  frown. 
"  A  horse  has  no  reasoning  brain.  Silence 
cannot  make  him  come  to  you." 

"  However,"  said  Connor  carelessly,  "  I 
shall  not  speak." 

The  master  set  his  teeth  over  unuttered 
words,  and  glancing  up  to  reassure  himself, 
his  face  altered  swiftly,  and  whispered: 

"  Now,  you  four  dead  masters,  bear  wit- 
ness to  this  marvel!  Glani  feels  the  in- 
fluence!" 

For  the  head  of  Glani  had  raised  as  he 
scented  the  wind.  Then  he  circled  the 
table  and  came  straight  toward  Connor. 
Within  a  pace,  the  scent  of  strange  hu- 
manity must  have  drowned  the  perfume  of 
the  root;  he  sprang  away,  catlike  and 
snorted  his  suspicion. 

David  heaved  a  great  sigh  of  relief. 

"You  fail!"  he  cried,  and  snatching  up 
a  bottle  of  wine,  he  poured  out  a  cup. 
"  Brave  Glani!  I  drink  this  in  your  honor!  " 

Every  muscle  in  David's  strong  body  was 
quivering,  as  though  he  were  throwing  all 
the  effort  of  his  will  on  the  side  of  the  stal- 
lion. 

"  You  think  I  have  failed?  asked  Connor 
softly. 

"  Admit  it,"  said  David. 

His  flush  was  gone  and  he  was  paler  than 
Connor  now;  he  seemed  to  desire  with  all 
his  might  that  the  test  should  end;  there 
was  a  fiber  of  entreaty  in  his  voice. 

"  Admit  it,  Benjamin,  as  I  admit  your 
strange  power." 

"  I  have  hardly  begun.    Give  me  quiet." 

David  flung  himself  into  his  chair,  his  at- 
tention jerking  from  Glani  to  Connor  and 
back.  It  was  at  this  critical  moment  that 
a  faint  breeze  puffed  across  the  patio,  car- 
rying the  imperceptible  fragrance  of  the 
root  straight  to  Glani.  Connor  watched 
the  stallion  prick  his  eyes,  and  he  blessed 
the  quaint  old  Viennese  with  all  his  heart. 

The  first  approach  of  Glani  had  been  in 
the  nature  of  a  feint,  but  now  that  he  was 
sure,  he  went  with  all  the  directness  of  un- 
spoiled courage  straight  to  the  stranger. 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


231 


He  lowered  the  beautiful  head  and  thrust 
out  his  nose  until  it  touched  the  hand  of 
Connor.  The  gambler  saw  David  shudder. 

"  You  have  conquered,"  he  said,  forcing 
out  the  words.  "  Take  Glani;  to  me  he  is 
now  a  small  thing.  He  is  yours  while  you 
stay  in  the  Garden.  Afterward  I  shall  give 
him  to  one  of  my  servants." 

Connor  stood  up,  and  though  at  his  ris- 
ing Glani  started  back,  he  came  to  Connor 
again,  following  that  elusive  scent.  To 
David  it  seemed  the  last  struggle  of  the 
horse  before  completely  submitting  to  the 
rule  of  a  new  master.  He  rose  in  turn, 
trembling  with  shame  and  anger,  while 
Connor  stood  still,  for  about  this  stranger 
drifted  a  perfume  of  broad  green  fields  with 
flowering  tufts  of  grass,  the  heads  well- 
seeded  and  sweet.  And  when  a  hand 
touched  his  withers,  the  stallion  merely 
turned  his  head  and  nuzzled  the  shoulder 
of  Connor  inquisitively. 

With  his  hand  on  the  back  of  the  horse, 
the  gambler  realized  for  the  first  time 
Glani 's  full  stature.  He  stood  at  least 
fifteen-three,  though  his  perfect  proportions 
made  him  seem  smaller  at  a  distance.  No 
doubt  he  was  a  giant  among  the  Eden 
Grays,  Connor  thought  to  himself.  The 
gallop  on  Abra  the  night  before  had  been 
a  great  moment,  but  a  ride  on  Glani  was  a 
prospect  that  took  his  breath.  He  paused. 
Perhaps  it  was  the  influence  of  a  forgotten 
Puritan  ancestor,  casting  a  shade  on  every 
hope  of  happiness.  With  his  weight  poised 
for  the  leap  to  the  back  of  the  stallion, 
Connor  looked  at  David.  The  master  was 
in  a  silent  agony,  and  the  hand  of  Connor 
fell  away  from  the  horse.  He  was  afraid. 

"  I  can't  do  it,"  he  said  frankly. 

"  Jump  on  his  back,"  urged  David  bit- 
terly. "  He  is  more  to  you  than  a  yearling 
to  the  hands  of  Abraham." 

Connor  realized  now  how  far  he  had 
gone;  he  set  about  retracing  the  wrong 
steps. 

"  It  may  appear  that  way,  but  I  can't 
trust  myself  on  his  back.  You  under- 
stand?" 

He  stepped  back  with  a  gesture  that  sent 
Glani  bounding  away. 

"  You  see,"  went  on  Connor,  "  I  never 
could  really  understand  him." 


The  master  seized  with  eagerness  upon 
this  gratifying  suggestion. 

"It  is  true,"  he  said,  "  that  you  are  a 
little  afraid  of  Glani.  That  is  why  none  of 
the  rest  can  handle  him." 

He  stopped  in  the  midst  of  his  self- 
congratulation  and  directed  at  Connor  one 
of  those  glances  which  the  gambler  could 
never  learn  to  meet. 

"  Also,"  said  David,  "  you  make  me 
happy.  If  you  had  sat  on  his  back  I 
should  have  felt  your  weight  on  my  own 
shoulders  and  spirit." 

He  laid  a  hand  on  Connor's  shoulder, 
but  the  gambler  had  won  and  lost  too  often 
with  an  impenetrable  face  to  quail  now. 
He  even  managed  to  smile. 

"  Hearken,"  said  David.  "  My  masters 
taught  me  many  things,  and  everything 
they  taught  me  must  be  true,  for  they  were 
only  voices  of  a  mind  out  of  another  world. 
Yet,  in  spite  of  them,"  he  went  on  kindly, 
"  I  begin  to  feel  a  kinship  with  you,  Ben- 
jamin. Come,  we  will  walk  and  talk  to- 
gether in  the  cool  of  the  morning.  Glani ! " 

The  gray  had  wandered  off  to  nibble  at 
the  turf;  he  whirled  and  came  like  a  thrown 
lance. 

"Glani,"  said  David,  "is  usually  the 
only  living  thing  that  walks  with  me  in  the 
morning;  but  now,  my  friend,  we  are 
three." 


CHAPTER  XV. 

THE   WARNING. 

IN  the  mid-afternoon  of  that  day  Connor 
rested  in  his  room,  and  David  rested  in 

the  lake,  floating  with  only  his  nose  and 
lips  out  of  water.  Toward  the  center  of 
the  lake  even  the  surface  held  the  chill  of 
the  snows,  but  David  floated  in  the  warm 
shallows  and  looked  up  to  the  sky  through 
a  film  of  water.  The  tiny  ripples  became 
immense  air  waves  that  rushed  from  moun- 
tain to  mountain,  dashed  the  clouds  up  and 
down,  and  then  left  the  heavens  placid  and 
windless. 

He  grew  weary  of  this  placidity,  and  as 
he  turned  upon  one  side  he  heard  a  pro- 
longed hiss  from  the  shore.  David  rolled 
with  the  speed  of  a  water  moccasin  and 


232 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


headed  in  with  his  arm  flashing  in  a  pow- 
erful stroke  that  presently  brought  him  to 
the  edge  of  the  beach.  He  rose  in  front  of 
old  Abraham. 

A  painter  should  have  seen  them  together 
• — the  time-dried  body  of  the  old  negro  and 
the  exuberant  youth  of  the  master.  He 
looked  on  the  servant  with  a  stern  kind- 
ness. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  without  a 
covering  for  your  head  while  the  sun  is 
hot?  Did  they  let  you  come  of  their  own 
accord,  Abraham?" 

"  I  slipped  away,"  chuckled  Abraham. 
"  Isaac  was  in  the  patio,  but  I  went  by  him 
like  a  hawk-shadow.  Then  I  ran  among 
the  trees.  Hat?  Well,  no  more  have  you  a 
hat,  David." 

The  master  frowned,  but  his  displeasure 
passed  quickly  and  he  led  the  way  to  the 
lowest  terrace.  They  sat  on  the  soft  thick 
grass,  with  their  feet  in  the  hot  sand  of  the 
beach,  and  as  the  wind  stirred  the  tree 
above  them  a  mottling  of  shadow  moved 
across  them. 

"  You  have  come  to  speak  privately  with 
me,"  said  David.  "  What  is  it?" 

But  Abraham  embraced  his  skinny  knees 
and  smiled  at  the  lake,  his  jaw  falling. 

"  It's  not  what  it  was,"  he  said,  and 
wagged  his  head.  "  It's  a  sad  lake  com- 
pared to  what  it  was." 

David  controlled  his  impatience. 

"  Tell  me  how  it  is  changed." 

"  The  color,"  said  the  old  man.  "  Why, 
once,  with  a  gallon  of  that  blue  you  could 
have  painted  the  whole  sky."  He  shaded 
his  face  to  look  up,  but  so  doing  his  glance 
ventured  through  the  branches  and  close 
to  the  white-hot  circle  of  the  sun.  His  head 
dropped  and  he  leaned  on  one  arm. 

"  Look  at  the  green  of  the  grass,"  sug- 
gested David.  "  It  will  rest  your  eyes." 

"  Do  you  think  my  eyes  are  weak?  No, 
I  dropped  my  head  to  think  how  the  world 
has  fallen  off  in  the  last  fifty  years.  It 
was  all  different  in  the  days  of  John.  But 
that  was  before  you  came  to  the  valley." 

"The  sky  was  not  the  same?"  queried 
the  master. 

"  And  men,  also,"  said  Abraham  instant- 
ly. "  Ho,  yes!  John  was  a  man;  you  will 
not  see  his  like  in  these  days." 


David  flushed,  but  he  held  back  his  first 
answer.  "  Perhaps." 

"  There  is  no  '  perhaps.'  " 

Abraham  spoke  with  a  decision  that 
brought  his  jaw  close  up  under  his  nose. 

"  He  is  my  master,"  insisted  Abraham, 
and,  smiling  suddenly,  he  whispered:  "  Mah 
ol'  Marse  Johnnie  Cracken!" 

"  What's  that?"  called  David. 

Abraham  stared  at  him  with  unseeing 
eyes.  A  mist  of  years  drifted  between 
them,  and  now  the  old  man  came  slowly 
out  of  the  past  and  found  himself  seated  on 
the  lawn  in  a  lonely  valley  with  great,  naked 
mountains  piled  around  it. 

"  What  did  you  say?"  repeated  David. 

Abraham  hastily  changed  the  subject. 

"  In  those  days  if  a  stranger  came  to 
the  Garden  of  Eden  he  did  not  stay.  Aye, 
and  in  those  days  Abraham  could  have 
taken  the  strongest  by  the  neck  and  pitched 
him  through  the  gates.  I  remember  when 
the  men  came  over  the  mountains — long  be- 
fore you  were  born.  Ten  men  at  the  gate, 
I  remember,  and  they  had  guns.  But 
when  my  master  told  them  to  go  away  they 
looked  at  him  and  they  looked  at  each 
other,  but  after  a  while  they  went  away." 

Abraham  rocked  in  an  ecstasy. 

"  No  man  could  face  my  master.  I  re- 
member how  he  sat  on  his  horse  that  day." 

"  It  was  Rustir?"  asked  David  eagerly. 

"  She  was  the  queen  of  horses,"  replied 
the  old  negro  indirectly,  "  and  he  was  the 
king  of  men;  there  are  no  more  men  like 
my  master,  and  there  are  no  more  horses 
like  Rustir." 

There  was  a  pause,  then  David  spoke. 

"  John  was  a  good  man  and  a  strong 
man,"  he  said,  looking  down  at  his  own 
brown  hands.  "  And  Rustir  was  a  fine 
mare,  but  it  is  foolish  to  call  her  the  best." 

"  There  was  never  a  horse  like  Rustir," 
said  the  old  man  monotonously. 

"  Bah!     What  of  Glani?" 

"  Yes,  that  is  a  good  colt." 

"  A  good  colt!  Come,  Abraham!  Have 
you  ever  opened  your  dim  eyes  and  really 
looked  at  him?  Name  one  fault." 

"  I  have  said  Glani  is  a  good  colt,"  re- 
peated Abraham,  worried. 

"  Come,  come!  You  have  said  Rustir 
was  better." 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


233 


"  Glani  is  a  good  colt,  but  too  heavy  in 
the  forehand.  Far  too  heavy  there." 

The  restraint  of  David  snapped. 

"It  is  false!  Ephraim,  Jacob,  they  all 
say  that  Glani  is  the  greatest." 

"  They  change  like  the  masters,"  grum- 
bled Abraham.  "  The  servants  change. 
They  flatter  and  the  master  believes.  But 
my  master  has  an  eye — he  looked  through 
a  man  like  an  eagle  through  mist.  When 
I  stood  before  my  master  my  soul  was 
naked;  a  wind  blew  through  me.  But  I 
say  John  was  one  man;  and  there  are  no 
other  horses  like  his  mare  Rustir.  My 
master  is  silent;  other  men  have  words  as 
heavy  as  their  hands." 

"  Peace,  Abraham,  peace.  You  shame 
me.  The  Lord  was  far  from  me,  and  I 
spoke  in  anger,  and  I  retract  it." 

"  A  word  is  a  bullet  that  strikes  men 
down,  David.  Let  the  wind  blow  on  your 
face  when  your  heart  is  hot." 

"  I  confess  my  sin,"  said  David,  but  his 
jaw  was  set. 

"  Confess  your  sins  in  silence." 

"  It  is  true." 

He  looked  at  Abraham  as  if  he  would  be 
rid  of  him. 

"  You  are  angry  to-day,  Abraham." 

"  The  law  of  the  Garden  has  been 
broken." 

"  By  whom?" 

"  David  has  unbarred  the  gate." 

"  Yes,  to  one  man." 

"  It  is  enough." 

"  Peace,  Abraham.  You  are  old  and 
look  awry.  This  one  man  is  no  danger.  I 
could  break  him  in  my  hands — so!" 

"  A  strong  man  may  be  hopeless  against 
words,"  said  the  oracular  old  man.  "  With 
a  word  he  may  set  you  on  fire." 

"  Do  you  think  me  a  tinder  and  dry 
grass?  Set  me  on  fire  with  a  word?" 

"  An  old  man  who  looks  awry  had  done 
it  with  a  word.  And  see — again!" 

There  was  a  silence  filled  only  by  the 
sound  of  David's  breathing  and  the  slow 
curling  of  the  ripples  on  the  beach. 

"  You  try  me  sorely,  Abraham." 

"  Good  steel  will  bend,  but  not  break." 

"  Say  no  more  of  this  man.  He  is  harm- 
less." 

"  Is  that  a  command,  David?" 


"  No — but  at  least  be  brief." 

"  Then  I  say  to  you,  David,  that  he  has 
brought  evil  into  the  valley." 

The  master  burst  into  sudden  laughter 
that  carried  away  his  anger. 

"  He  brought  no  evil,  Abraham.  He 
brought  only  the  clothes  on  his  back." 

"  The  serpent  brought  into  the  first  Gar- 
den only  his  skin  and  his  forked  tongue." 

"  There  was  a  devil  in  that  serpent." 

"  Aye,  and  what  of  Benjamin?" 

"  Tell  me  your  proofs,  and  let  them  be 
good  ones,  Abraham." 

"  I  am  old,"  said  the  negro  sadly,  "  but 
I  am  not  afraid." 

"  I  wait." 

"  Benjamin  brought  an  evil  image  with 
him.  It  is  the  face  of  a  great  suhman, 
and  he  tempted  Joseph  with  it,  and  Joseph 
fell." 

"  The  trinket  of  carved  bone?"  asked 
David. 

"The  face  of  a  devil!  Who  was  un- 
happy among  us  until  Benjamin  came? 
But  with  his  charm  he  bought  Joseph,  and 
now  Joseph  walks  alone  and  thinks  unholy 
thoughts,  and  when  he  is  spoken  to  he  looks 
up  first  with  a  snake's  eye  before  he  an- 
swers. Is  not  this  the  work  of  Benjamin?" 

"  What  would  you  have  me  do?  Joseph 
has  already  paid  for  his  fault  with  the  pain 
of  the  wrhip." 

"  Cast  out  the  stranger,  David." 

David  mused.  At  last  he  spoke.  "  Look 
at  me,  Abraham!" 

The  other  raised  his  head  and  peered 
into  the  face  of  David,  but  presently  his 
glance  wavered  and  turned  away. 

"See,"  said  David.  "After  Matthew 
died  there  was  no  one  in  the  Garden  who 
could  meet  my  glance.  But  Benjamin  is 
a  mind,  and  he  meets  my  eye  and  I  feel  his 
thoughts  before  he  speaks  them.  He  is 
pleasant  to  me,  Abraham." 

"  The  voice  of  the  serpent  was  pleasant 
to  Eve,"  said  the  negro. 

The  nostrils  of  David  quivered. 

"  What  is  it  that  you  call  the  trinket?" 

"  A  great  suhman.  My  people  feared 
and  worshiped  him  in  the  old  days.  A 
strong  devil!" 

"  An  idol! "  said  David.  "  What!  Abra- 
ham, do  you  still  worship  sticks  and  stones? 


234 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


Have  you  been  taught  no  more  than  that? 
Do  you  put  a  mind  in  the  handiwork  of  a 
man?" 

The  head  of  Abraham  fell. 

"  I  am  weak  before  you,  David,"  he  said. 
"  I  have  no  power  to  speak  except  the 
words  of  my  master,  which  I  remember. 
Now  I  feel  you  rise  against  me,  and  I  am 
dust  under  your  feet.  Think  of  Abraham, 
then,  as  a  voice  in  the  wind,  but  hear  that 
voice.  I  know,  but  I  know  not  why  I 
know,  or  how  I  know,  there  is  evil  in  the 
valley,  David.  Cast  it  out!" 

"  I  have  broken  bread  and  drunk  milk 
with  Benjamin.  How  can  I  drive  him  out 
of  the  valley?" 

"  Let  him  stay  in  the  valley  if  you  can 
keep  him  out  of  your  mind.  He  is  in  your 
thoughts.  He  is  with  you  like  a  shadow." 

"He  is  not  stronger  than  I,"  said  the 
master. 

"  Evil  is  stronger  than  the  greatest." 

"It  is  cowardly  to  shrink  from  him  be- 
fore I  know  him." 

"  Have  no  fear  of  him — but  of  yourself. 
A  wise  man  trembleth  at  his  own  strength." 

"  Tell  me,  Abraham — does  the  seed  of 

(To  be  continued 


Rustir  know  men?   Do  they  know  good  and 
evil?" 

"  Yes,  for  Rustir  knew  my  master." 

"  And  has  Glani  ever  bowed  his  head 
for  any  man  saving  for  me?" 

"  He  is  a  stubborn  colt.  Aye,  he  trou-> 
bled  me!" 

"  But  I  tell  you,  Abraham,  he  came  to 
the  hand  of  Benjamin!" 

The  old  negro  blinked  at  the  master. 

"  Then  there  was  something  in  that 
hand,"  he  said  at  last. 

"  There  was  nothing,"  said  David  in  tri- 
umph. "  I  saw  the  bare  palm." 

"  It  is  strange." 

"  You  are  wrong.    Admit  it." 

"  I  must  think,  David." 

"  Yes,"  said  the  master  kindly.  "  Here 
is  my  hand.  Rise,  and  come  with  me  to 
your  house." 

They  went  slowly,  slowly  up  the  terrace, 
Abraham  clinging  to  the  arm  of  the  master. 

"  Also,"  said  David,  "  he  has  come  for 
only  a  little  time.  He  will  soon  be  gone. 
Speak  no  more  of  Benjamin." 

"  I  have  already  spoken  almost  enough," 
said  Abraham.    "  You  will  not  forget." 
NEXT  WEEK.) 


George  M.A. 


IN  the  chief  hut  of  a  deserted  native  vil-  of   closely   figured  sheets  of  paper.     He 

lage  on  the  banks  of,  perhaps,  the  wild-  went  over  these  again  and  again,  unable  to 

est  of  earth's  navigable  rivers,  a  man  convince  himself  of  the  results  he  got  from 

sat  on  a  pine  box  behind  a  larger  one,  upon  the  figures, 
which  as  a  table  he  had  spread  a  number        Occasionally    he    lifted    his    face    and 


BEASTS.  397 

"  Then  I  shall  turn  into  that  hut  Silwane,  moment   I   saw   that   Imonga's   hand   was 

and  the  two  of  you  shall  stay  there  together  covered  with  blood — fresh  blood — flowing 

until  such  time  as  you  see  fit  to  obey  me.  blood.    It  came  to  me  that  the  rough  tongue 

No  food  shall  be  given  to  you — or  to  S51-  of  Silwane  had  reopened   the  wound  on 

wane.    You  both  shall  go  hungry  unless  you  Imonga's  hand. 

feed  upon  Silwane  or,  perchance,  Silwane        I  would  have  called  aloud,  but  something, 

feeds  on  you."  and  it  was  not   fear,   bade  me  hold  my 

As  for  the  rest — this  is  how  my  memory  tongue, 
of  it  runs:  Again  Silwane  began  to  lick  the  hand, 

Through  the  opening  in  the  door  of  the  purring  as  he  did  so.    Again  the  white  man 

shed  I  watched.    Imonga  sat  in  a  chair,  and  stirred  in  his  sleep,  and  this  time  he  pulled 

in  his  right  hand  was  a  bottle  from  which  his  hand  away  from  Silwane. 
he  drank  constantly.    His  other  hand — his         Then,  Inkosi,  the  tawny  one,  rose  to  his 

wounded  one,  the  one  he  hurt  when  he  hit  feet;  from  his  mighty  throat  sounded  the 

me  so  mightily — hung  over  the  side  of  his  evil  snarl  of  an  angry  lion, 
chair.  Imonga  opened  his  eyes  at  the  sound, 

Silwane  reclined  beside  him,  and  as  I  and  turning  his  head,  looked  wonderingly 

watched,  I  saw  Imonga  toy  with  the  mane  at    Silwane — the    evil,    snarling    Silwane— 

of  the  lion:  saw  him  scratch  the  big  beast  then  down  at  his  bloody  hand, 
between  the  ears  with  his  wounded  hand.         In  that  moment  Imonga  knew  what  fear 

And  Silwane  purred — a  harsh,  rasping  purr  was;  knew  that  the  time  had  come  when 

— under  his  master's  caress.  he  must  meet  the  vengeance  of  the  great 

After  a  little  while  Imonga  fell  into  a  ones.    In  that  moment  the  realization  must 

deep  sleep.     It  was  the  heavy,  deathlike  have  come  to  him,  with  the  suddenness  of 

sleep  of  drunkenness.  a  flash  of  lightning,  that  Silwane,  having 

Even  now  I  can  see  the  man;  his  face  tasted  blood — the  blood  of  a  man — knew 

covered  with  a  black,  bristly  beard  which  that  he  was  a  lion. 

mingled  with  the  hair  on  his  mighty  chest.        Just  that  moment  was  given  Imonga  that 

His  mouth  was  wide  open,  showing  the  fang-  he  might  fully  sense  the  doom  in  store  for 

like,  yellow  teeth.    Even  in  sleep  he  was  a  him — the  spirits  are  always  just — and  then 

menace.  Silwane  leaped. 

Then,  as  I  watched,  I  saw  Silwane  licking 

the  hand  of  Imonga — licking  it  as  a  dog        "  That  is  all,  Inkosi,"  concluded  Tamba, 

will  lick  the  hand  of  his  master.  rising  slowly  to  his  feet.    The  beast  of  the 

Imonga  shuddered  as  though  troubled  by  jungle   delivered   us    from    the  hold   of  a 

a  dream,  and  a  loud  moan  came  from  his  greater  beast  in  the  guise  of  man. 
lips.     His  hand  twitched  slightly,  and  Sil-         "  Now,  have  I  your  leave  to  go,  Inkosi?" 
wane  ceased  for  a  moment  his  licking  to        Johnson  nodded  absently.    His  mind  was 

look  up  into  his  master's  face.     At  that  too  full  of  the  wonder  of  things  for  words. 

rr  tr  rr  tr 

THE  150TH  NOVEL,  ORIGINALLY  PRINTED  SERIALLY  IN  THIS  MAGA- 
ZINE. TO  BE  PUBLISHED  IN  BOOK  FORM  IS 

NIGHT  DRUMS 

BY  ACHMED  ABDULLAH 

Author  of  "  The  Blue-Eyed  Manchu,"  etc. 

(All-Story  Weekly  as  "  Master  of  the  Hour,"  December  22,  1917,  to  January  19,  1918.) 
Published  in  book  form  by  the  James  A.  McCann  Company,  New  York.  Price  SI.QO  net. 


Anther  of  "The  Untamed,"  "Trailin',"  "The  Seventh  Man,"  "Black  Jack,"  etc. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

CONNOR    TURNS    POET. 

A  "THOUGH  David  was  smiling  when 
he  left  Abraham,  he  was  serious 
when  he  turned  from  the  door  of 
the  old  man.     He  went  to  Connor's  room, 
it  was  empty.    He  summoned  Zacharias. 


'  Benjamin,"  he  went  on,  "  said  to  me, 
*  My  friend,  that  is  a  noble  mare.' 

"  '  She  is  a  good  filly,'  said  I. 

"  '  With  a  hundred  and  ten  up,'  said  Ben- 
jamin, '  she  would  make  a  fast  track 
talk.' " 

"What?  "said  David. 

"  I   do  not  know   the  meaning  of  his 


The  men  beyond   the  mountains  are     words,"  said  the  old  servant,  "  but  I  have 


weak,"  said  David,  "  and  when  I  left  him 
a  little  time  since  Benjamin  was  sighing 
and  sleepy.  But  now  he  is  not  in  his  room. 
Where  is  he,  Zacharias?" 

"  Shakra  came  into  the  patio  and 
neighed,"  answered  the  negro,  "  and  at  that 
Benjamin  came  out,  rubbing  his  eyes.  '  My 


told  them  as  he  said  them." 

"  He  is  full  of  strange  terms,"  murmured 
David.  "  Continue." 

"  He  went  first  to  one  side  of  Shakra  and 
then  to  the  other.  He  put  his  hand  into  his 
coat  and  seemed  to  think.  Presently  he 
stretched  out  his  hand  and  called  her.  She 


friend,'  said  he  to  me,  and  his  voice  was     came  to  him  slowly.' 


smooth — not  like  those  voices — ' 

"  Peace,  Zacharias,"  said  David.  "  Leave 
this  talk  of  his  voice  and  tell  me  where  he 


is  gone. 


Away  from  the  house,"  said  the  old 
negro  sullenly. 

The  master  knitted  his  brows. 

"  You    old    men,"    he    said,    "  are   like 


'  Wonderful!" 

"  That  was  my  thought,"  nodded  Zacha- 
rias. 

"  Why  do  you  stop?"  cried  David. 

"  Because  I  am  talking  around  and 
around,  like  a  running  yearling,"  said 
Zacharias  ironically.  "  However,  he  stood 
back  at  length  and  combed  the  forelock 


yearlings  who  feel  the  sap  running  in  their     of    Shakra    with    his    fingers.     :  Tell    me, 


legs  in  the  spring.     You  talk  as  they  run — 
around  and  around.     Continue." 

Zacharias  sulked  as  if  he  were  on  the 
verge  of  not  speaking  at  all.  But  presently 
his  eye  lighted  with  his  story. 


Zacharias,'  he  said,  '  if  this  is  not  the  sister 

of  Glani?'  " 

"  He  guessed  so  much?     It  is  strange!" 
"  Then  he  looked  in  her  mouth  and  said 

that  she  was  four  years  old." 


This  story  began  in  the  Argosy- Allstory  Weekly  for  April  15. 

398 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


399 


"  He  is  wise  in  horses,  indeed." 

"  When  he  turned  away  Shakra  followed 
him;  he  went  to  his  room  and  came  out 
again,  carrying  the  saddle  with  which  he 
rode  Abra.  He  put  this  on  her  back  and 
a  rope  around  her  neck.  '  Will  the  master 
be  angry  if  I  ride  her?'  he  asked. 

"  I  told  him  that  she  was  first  ridden 
only  three  months  before  to-day,  and  that 
she  must  not  be  ridden  more  than  fifty 
miles  now  in  a  day. 

"  He  looked  a  long  time  at  me,  then  said 
he  would  not  ride  farther  than  that.  Then 
he  went  galloping  down  the  road  to  the 
south." 

"Good!"  said  the  master,  and  sent  a 
long  whistle  from  the  patio;  it  was  pitched 
as  shrill  and  small  as  the  scream  of  a  hawk 
when  the  hawk  itself  cannot  be  seen  in  the 
sky. 

The  negro  ran  into  the  house,  and  when 
he  came  out  again  bringing  a  pad  Glani  was 
already  in  the  patio. 

David  took  the  pad  and  cinched  it  on  the 
back  of  the  stallion. 

"  And  when  Shakra  began  to  gallop," 
said  the  negro,  ''  Benjamin  cried  out." 

"  What  did  he  say?" 

"  Nothing." 

"  Zacharias,  men  do  not  cry  out  without 
speaking/' 

kk  Nevertheless,"  said  Zacharias,  "  it  was 
like  the  cry  of  a  wolf  when  they  hunt  along 
the  cliffs  in  winter  and  see  the  young 
horses  and  the  cattle  hi  the  Garden  below 
them.  It  was  a  cry,  and  there  was  no 
spoken  word  in  it." 

The  master  bit  his  lip. 

"  Abraham  has  been  talking  folly  to 
you,"  he  said;  and,  springing  on  the  back 
of  the  stallion,  he  raced  out  of  the  patio 
and  on  to  the  south  road  with  his  long, 
black  hair  whipping  straight  out  behind  his 
head. 

At  length  the  southern  wall  rose  slowly 
over  the  trees,  and  a  deep  murmur  which 
had  begun  about  them  as  soon  as  they  left 
the  house,  light  as  the  humming  of  bees, 
increasing  as  they  went  down  the  valley, 
now  became  a  great  rushing  noise.  It  was 
like  a  great  wind  in  sound;  one  expected 
the  push  of  a  gale,  coming  out  from  the 
trees,  but  there  was  only  the  river  which 


ran  straight  at  the  cliff,  split  solid  rock, 
and  shot  out  of  sunlight  into  a  black  cav- 
ern. Beside  this  gaping  mouth  of  rock 
stood  Connor  with  Shakra  beside  him. 
Twice  the  master  called,  but  Connor  could 
not  hear. 

The  tumbling  river  would  have  drowned 
a  valley  of  musketry.  Only  when  David 
touched  his  shoulder  did  Connor  turn  a 
gloomy  face.  They  took  their  horses  across 
the  bridge  which  passed  over  the  river  a 
little  distance  from  the  cliff,  and  rode  down 
the  farther  side  of  the  valley  until  the  roar 
sank  behind  them.  A  few  barriers  of  trees 
reduced  it  to  the  humming  which  on  wind- 
less days  was  picked  up  by  echoes  and 
reached  the  house  of  David  with  a  solemn 
murmur. 

"  I  thought  you  would  rest,"  said  David, 
when  they  were  come  to  a  place  of  quiet, 
and  the  horses  cantered  lightly  over  the 
road  with  that  peculiar  stride,  at  once  soft 
and  reaching,  which  Connor  was  beginning 
to  see  as  the  chief  characteristic  of  the  Eden 
Gray. 

"  I  have  rested  more  in  two  minutes  on 
the  back  of  Shakra  than  I  could  rest  in  two 
hours  on  my  bed." 

It  was  like  disarming  a  father  by  praise 
of  his  son. 

"  She  has  a  gentle  gait,"  smiled  David. 

"I  tell  vou,  man,  she's  a  knockout!" 

"  A  knockout?" 

The  gambler  added  hastily:  "  Next  to 
Glani  the  best  horse  I  have  seen." 

"  You  are  right.  Next  to  Glani  the  best 
in  the  valley." 

"  In  the  world,"  said  Connor,  and  then 
gave  a  cry  of  wonder. 

They  had  come  through  an  avenue  of  the 
eucalyptus  trees,  and  now  they  reached  an 
open  meadow,  beyond  which  aspens  trem- 
bled and  flashed  silver  under  a  shock  from 
the  wind.  Half  the  meadow  was  black, 
half  green;  for  one  of  the  old  negroes  was 
plowing.  He  turned  a  rich  furrow  behind 
him,  and  the  blackbirds  followed  in  chat- 
tering swarms  in  their  hunt  for  worms.  The 
plow  team  was  a  span  of  slender-limbed 
Eden  Grays.  They  walked  lightly  with 
plow,  shaking  their  heads  at  the  blackbirds, 
and  sometimes  they  touched  noses  in  that 
cheery,  dumb  conversation  of  horses.  The 


400 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


plow  turned  down  the  field  with  the  sod 
curling  swiftly  behind.  The  blackbirds 
followed.  There  were  soldier-wings  among 
them  making  flashes  of  red,  and  all  the 
swarm  scolded. 

"  David,"  said  Connor  when  he  could 
speak,  "  you  might  as  well  harness  light- 
ning to  your  plow.  Why  in  the  name  of 
God,  man,  don't  you  get  mules  for  this 
work?" 

The  master  looked  to  the  ground,  for  he 
was  angered. 

"  It  is  not  against  His  will  that  I  work 
them  at  the  plow,"  he  answered.  %>  He  has 
not  warned  me  against  it." 

"Who  hasn't?" 

"  Our  Father  whose  name  you  spoke. 
Look!  They  are  not  unhappy,  Jurith  and 
Rajima,  of  the  blood  of  Aliriz." 

He  whistled,  whereat  the  off  mare  tossed 
her  head  and  whinnied. 

"  By  Heaven,  she  knows  you  at  this  dis- 
tance!" gasped  Connor. 

"  Which  is  only  to  say  that  she  is  not 
a  fool.  Did  I  not  sit  with  her  three  days 
and  three  nights  when  she  was  first  foaled? 
That  was  twenty-five  years  ago;  I  was  a 
child  then." 

Connor,  staring  after  the  high,  proud 
head  of  Jurith,  sighed.  The  horses  started 
on  at  a  walk  which  was  the  least  excellent 
gait  in  the  Eden  Grays.  Their  high  croups 
and  comparatively  low  withers,  their  long 
hindlegs  and  the  shorter  forelegs,  gave  them 
a  waddling  motion  with  the  hind  quarters 
apparently  huddling  the  forehand  along. 

Indeed,  they  seemed  designed  in  every 
particular  for  the  gallop  alone.  But  Glani 
AY  as  an  exception.  Just  as  in  size  he  ap- 
peared a  freak  among  the  others,  so  in  his 
gaits  all  things  were  perfectly  proportioned. 
Connor,  with  a  deep,  quiet  delight,  watched 
the  big  stallion  stepping  freely.  Shakra 
had  to  break  into  a  soft  trot  now  and  then 
to  catch  up. 

"  Let  us  walk,"  said  David.  "  The  run 
is  for  when  a  man  feels  with  the  hawk  in 
the  sky;  the  gallop  is  for  idle  pleasure;  the 
trot  is  an  ugly  gait,  for  distance  only;  but 
a  walk  is  the  gait  when  two  men  speak 
together.  In  this  manner  Matthew  and  I 
went  up  and  down  the  valley  roads.  Alas, 
it  is  five  years  since  I  have  walked  my 


horse!     Is  it  not,  Glani,  my  king?     And 
now,  Benjamin,  tell  me  your  trouble." 

"  There  is  no  trouble,"  said  Connor. 

But  David  smiled,  saying:  "  We  are 
brothers  in  Glani,  Benjamin.  To  us  alone 
he  has  given  his  head.  Therefore  speak 
freely." 

'  Look  back,"  said  Connor,  feeling  that 
the  crisis  had  come  and  that  he  must  now 
put  his  fortune  to  the  touch. 

David  turned  on  the  stallion.  "  WTiat  do 
you  see?" 

"  I  see  old  Elijah.  He  drives  the  two 
mares,  and  the  furrow  follows  them — the 
blackbirds  also." 

"  Do  you  see  nothing  else?" 

"  I  see  the  green  meadow  and  the  sky 
with  a  cloud  in  it;  I  see  the  river  yonder 
and  the  aspens  flash  as  the  wind  strikes 
them." 

"  And  do  you  hear  nothing?" 

"  I  hear  the  falling  of  the  Jordan  and 
the  cry  of  the  birds.  Also,  Elijah  has  just 
spoken  to  Rajima.  Ah,  she  is  lazy  for  a 
daughter  of  Aliriz!" 

"  Do  you  wish  to  know  what  I  see  and 
hear,  David?" 

"  If  it  is  your  pleasure,  brother." 

"  I  see  a  blue  sky  like  this,  with  the  wind 
and  the  clouds  in  it  and  all  that  stuff — " 

"All  of  what?" 

"  And  I  see  also,"  continued  Connor,  re- 
solving to  watch  his  tongue,  "'  thousands  of 
people,  acres  of  men  and  women." 

David  was  breathless  with  interest.  He 
had  a  way  of  opening  his  eyes  and  his 
mind  like  a  child. 

"We  are  among  them;  they  jostle  us; 
we  can  scarcely  breathe.  There  is  a  green 
lawn  below  us;  we  cannot  see  the  greea, 
it  is  so  thickly  covered  with  men.  They 
have  pulled  out  their  wallets  and  they  have 
money  in  their  hands." 

"  What  is  it?"  muttered  David.  "  For 
my  thoughts  swim  in  those  waves  of  faces." 

"  I  see,"  went  on  Connor,  "  a  great  oval 
road  fenced  on  each  side,  with  colored  posts 
at  intervals.  I  see  horses  in  a  line,  dancing 
up  and  down,  turning  about — " 

"Ah,  horses!" 

"  Kicking  at  each  other." 

"  So?  Are  there  such  bad  manners 
among  them?" 

5  A 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


401 


"  But  what  each  man  is  trembling  for, 
and  what  each  man  has  risked  his  money 
upon,  is  this  question:  Which  of  all  those 
is  the  fastest  horse?  Think!  The  horses 
which  fret  in  that  line  are  the  finest  money 
can  buy.  Their  blood  lines  are  longer  than 
the  blood  lines  of  kings.  They  are  all  fine 
muscles  and  hair-trigger  nerves.  They  are 
poised  for  the  start.  And  now — " 

"Benjamin,  is  there  such  love  of  horses 
over  the  mountains?  Listen!  Fifty  thou- 
sand men  and  women  breathe  with  those 
racers." 

"  I  know."  There  was  a  glint  in  the  eyes 
of  David.  "  When  two  horses  match  their 
speed — ' 

"  Some  men  have  wagered  all  their 
money.  They  have  borrowed,  they  have 
stolen,  to  get  what  they  bet.  But  there 
are  two  men  only  who  bet  on  one  of  the 
horses.  You,  David,  and  I!" 

"  Ha?    But  money  is  hard  to  come  by." 

"  We  ask  them  the  odds,"  continued  Con- 
nor. "  For  one  dollar  we  shall  take  a  hun- 
dred if  our  horse  wins — odds  of  a  hundred 
to  one !  And  we  wager.  We  wager  the  value 
of  all  we  have.  We  wager  the  value  of  the 
Garden  of  Eden  itself! " 

"  It  is  madness,  Benjamin ! " 

"  Look  closer!  See  them  at  the  post. 
There's  the  Admiral.  There's  Fidgety — 
that  tall  chestnut.  There's  Glorious  Polly 
— the  little  bay.  The  greatest  stake  horses 
in  the  country.  The  race  of  the  year.  But 
the  horse  we  bet  on,  David,  is  a  horse 
which  none  of  the  rest  in  that  crowd 
knows.  It  is  a  horse  whose  pedigree 
is  not  published.  It  is  a  small  horse,  not 
more  than  fourteen-three.  It  stands  per- 
fectly still  in  the  midst  of  that  crowd  of 
nervous  racers.  On  its  back  is  an  old 


negro. 


"  But  can  the  horse  win?  And  who  is  the 
negro?" 

"  On  the  other  horses  are  boys  who  have 
starved  until  they  are  wisps  with  only  hands 
for  the  reins  of  a  horse  and  knees  to  keep 
on  his  back.  They  have  stirrups  so  short 
that  they  seem  to  be  floating  above  the 
racers.  But  on  the  back  of  the  horse  on 
which  AVC  are  betting  there  is  only  an  old, 
old  negro,  sitting  heavily." 

"  His  name!.   His  name!"  David  cried. 

6  A 


4  Elijah!     And  the  horse  is  Jurith!" 

H  Xo,  no!  Withdraw  the  bets!  She  is 
old." 

"  They  are  off!  The  gray  mare  is  not 
trained  for  the  start.  She  is  left  standing 
far  behind." 

"Ah!"  David  groaned. 

"  Fifty  thousand  people  laughing  &  the 
old  gray  mare  left  at  the  post!" 

"  I  see  it!     I  hear  it!" 

"She's  too  short  ki  front;  too  high  be- 
hind. She's  a  joke  horse.  And  see  the  pic- 
ture horses!  Down  the  back  stretch!  The 
fifty  thousand  have  forgotten  the  gray,  even 
to  laugh  at  her.  The  pack  drives  into  the 
home  stretch.  There's  a  straight  road  to 
the  fini'sh.  They  straighten  out.  They  get 
their  feet.  They're  off  for  the  wire!" 

The  voice  of  Connor  had  risen  to  a  shrill 
cry.  "  But  look!  Look!  There's  a  streak 
of  gray  coming  around  the  turn.  It's  the 
mare!  It's  old  Jurith!" 

"Jurith!" 

"No  awkwardness  now!  She  spreads 
herself  out  and  the  posts  disappear  beside 
her.  She  stretches  down  low  and  the  rest 
come  back  to  her.  Fine  horses;  they  run 
well.  But  Jurith  is  a  racing  machine. 
She's  on  the  hip  of  the  pack!  Look  at  the 
old  negro  all  the  thousand  were  laughing 
at.  He  sits  easily  in  the  saddle.  He  has 
no  whip.  His  reins  are  loose.  And  then 
he  uses  the  posts  ahead  of  him.  He  leans 
over  and  speaks  one  word  in  the  ear  of  the 
gray  mare. 

"  By  the  Lord,  she  was  walking  before; 
she  was  cantering!  Now  she  runs!  Now 
she  runs!  And  the  fifty  thousand  are 
dumb,  white.  A  solid  wall  of  faces  covered 
with  whitewash!  D'you  see?  They're  sick! 
And  then  all  at  once  they  know  they're 
seeing  a  miracle.  They  have  been  standing 
up  ever  since  the  horses  entered  the  home- 
stretch. Now  they  climb  on  one  another's 
shoulders.  They  forget  all  about  thou- 
sands— the  hundred  of  thousands  of  dollars 
which  they  are  going  to  lose.  They  only 
know  that  they  are  seeing  a  great  horse. 
And  they  love  that  new,  great  horse.  They 
scream  as  they  see  her  come.  Women 
break  into  tears  as  the  old  negro  shoots 
past  the  grandstand.  Men  shriek  and  hug 
each  other.  They  dance. 


402 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


"  The  gray  streaks  shoots  on.  She  is 
past  the  others.  She  is  rushing  for  the 
finish  wire  as  no  horse  ever  ran  before. 
She  is  away.  One  length,  two  lengths,  six 
lengths  of  daylight  show  between  her  and 
the  rest.  She  gallops  past  the  finish  posts 
with  Elijah  looking  back  at  the  others! 

"  She  has  won!  You  have  won,  David. 
I  have  won.  We  are  rich.  Happy.  The 
world's  before  us.  David,  do  you  see?" 

"  Is  it  possible?  But  no,  Benjamin,  not 
Jurith.  Some  other,  perhaps.  Shakra — 
Glani— " 

"  No,  we  would  take  Jurith — twenty-five 
years  old ! " 

Connor's  last  words  trailed  off  into  hys- 
terical laughter. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

THE   TEMPTING. 

DAVID  was  still  flushed  with  the  ex- 
citement of  the  tale,  and  he  was  per- 
plexed and  troubled  when  Connor's 
strange,  high  laughter  brought  to  an  abrupt 
end  the  picture  they  had  both  lived  in. 

The  gambler  saw  the  frown  on  David's 
brow,  and  with  an  effort  he  made  himself 
suddenly  grave,  though  he  was  still  pale 
and  shaking. 

"  David,  this  is  the  reason  Jurith  can 
win.  Somewhere  in  the  past  there  was  a 
freak  gray  horse.  There  are  other  kinds  of 
freaks;  oranges  had  seeds  in  'em;  all  at 
once  up  pops  a  tree  that  has  seedless  fruit. 
People  plant  shoots  from  it.  There  you  have 
the  naval  orange,  all  out  of  one  tree.  It's 
the  same  way  with  that  gray  horse.  It  was 
a  freak;  had  a  high  croup  and  muscles  as 
stretchy  as  India-rubber,  and  strong — like 
the  difference  between  the  muscles  of  a 
mule  and  the  muscles  of  most  horses. 
That's  what  that  first  horse  was.  He  was 
bred  and  the  get  came  into  this  valley. 
They  kept  improving — and  the  result  is 
Glani!  The  Eden  Gray,  David,  is  the  finest 
horse  in  the  world  because  it's  a  different 
and  a  better  horse!" 

The  master  paused  for  some  time,  and 
Connor  knew  he  was  deep  in  thought. 
Finally  he  spoke: 

"  But  if  we  know  the  speed  of  the  Eden 


Grays,  why  should  we  go  out  into  the  world 
and  take  the  money  of  other  men  because 
they  do  not  know  how  fast  our  horses  run?" 

Connor  made  sure  the  master  was  serious 
and  nerved  himself  for  the  second  effort. 

"  What  do  you  wish,  David?" 

"  In  what  measure,  Benjamin?" 

"  The  sky's  the  limit!  I  say,  what  do 
you  wish?  The  last  wish  that  was  in  your 
head." 

"Shakra  stumbled  a  little  while  ago;  I 
wished  for  a  smother  road." 

"  David,  with  the  money  we  win  on 
the  tracks  we'll  tear  up  these  roads,  cut 
trenches,  fill  'em  with  solid  blocks  of  rock, 
lay  'em  over  with  asphalt,  make  'em  as 
smooth  as  glass!  What  else?" 

"  You  jest,  Benjamin.  That  is  a  labor 
for  a  thousand  men." 

:<  I  say,  it's  nothing  to  what  we'll  do. 
What  else  do  you  want?  Turn  your  mind 
loose — open  up  your  eyes  and  see  some- 
thing that's  hard  to  get." 

'  Every  wish  is  a  regret,  and  why  should 
I  fail  of  gratitude  to  God  by  making  my 
wishes?  Yet,  I  have  been  weak,  I  confess. 
I  have  sometimes  loathed  the  crumbling 
walls  of  my  house.  I  have  wished  for  a 
tall  chamber  —  on  the  floor  a  covering 
which  makes  no  sound  colors  about  me— 
crystal  vases  for  my  flowers — music  when  I 
come— 

"  Stop  there!  You  see  that  big  white 
cliff?  I'll  have  that  stone  cut  in  chunks  as 
big  as  you  and  your  horse  put  together. 
I'll  have  'em  piled  on  a  foundation  as 
strong  as  the  bottom  of  those  hills.  You 
see  the  way  those  mountain-tops  walk  into 
the  sky?  That's  how  the  stairways  will 
step  up  to  the  front  of  your  house  and  put 
you  out  on  a  big  terrace  with  columns 
scooting  up  fifty  feet,  and  when  you  walk 
across  the  terrace  a  couple  of  great  big 
doors  weighing  about  a  ton  apiece  will  drift 
open  and  make  a  whisper  when  you  mosey 
in.  And  when  you  get  inside  you'll  start 
looking  up  and  up,  but  you'll  get  dizzy  be- 
fore your  eyes  hit  the  ceiling;  and  up  there 
you'll  see  a  lighting  stunt  that  looks  like  a 
million  icicles  with  the  sun  behind  'em." 

He  paused  an  instant  for  breath  and  saw 
David  smiling  in  a  hazy  pleasure. 

"I  follow  you,"  he' said  softly.     "Go 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN. 


403 


on!"  And  his  hand  stretched  out  as  though 
to  open  a  door. 

"  What  I've  told  you  about  is  only  a  be- 
ginning. Turn  yourself  loose;  dream,  and 
III  turn  your  dream  into  stone  and  color, 
and  fill  up  your  windows  with  green  and 
gold  and  red  glass  till  you'll  think  a  rain- 
bow has  got  all  tangled  up  there!  I'll  give 
you  musie  that'll  make  you  forget  to  think, 
and  when  you  think  I'll  give  you  a  room  so 
big  that  you'll  have  silence  with  an  echo 
to  it." 

*  All  this  for  my  horses?" 

••  Send  one  of  the  grays — just  one,  and 
let  me  place  the  wagers.  You  don't  even 
have  to  risk  your  own  money.  I've  made 
a  slough  of  it  betting  on  things  that  weren't 
lead  pipe  cinches  like  this.  I  made  on  Fid- 
gety Midget  at  fifty  to  one.  I  made  on 
Gosham  at  eight  to  one.  Nobody  told  me 
how  to  bet  on  'em.  I  know  a  horse — that's 
all!  You  stay  in  the  Garden;  I  take  one  of 
the  grays;  I  bring  her  back  in  six  months 
with  more  coin  than  she  can  pack,  and  we 
split  it  fifty-fifty.  You  furnish  the  horse. 
I  furnish  the  jack.  Is  it  a  go?" 

A  bird  stopped  above  them,  whistled  and 
dipped  away  over  the  tree-tops.  David 
turned  his  head  to  follow  the  trailing  song, 
and  Connor  realized  with  a  sick  heart  that 
he  had  failed  to  sweep  his  man  off  his  feet. 

"  Would  you  have  me  take  charity?" 
asked  David  at  length. 

It  seemed  to  Connor  that  there  was  a 
smile  behind  this.  He  himself  burst  into  a 
roar  of  laughter. 

-ure,  it  sounds  like  charity.  They  11  be 
making  you  a  gift  right  enough.  There 
isn't  a  horse  on  the  turf  that  has  a  chance 
with  one  of  the  grays!  But  they'll  bet  their 
money  like  fools." 

Would  it  not  be  a  sin,  then?" 

"  What  sin?"  asked  Connor  roughly. 
"  Don't  they  grab  the  coin  of  other  peo- 
ple? Does  the  bookie  ask  you  how  much 
coin  you  have  and  if  you  can  afford  to  lose 
it?  No,  he's  out  to  get  all  that  he  can  grab. 
And  we'll  go  out  and  do  some  grabbing  in 
turn.  Oh,  they'll  squeal  when  we  turn  the 
screw,  but  they'll  kick  through  with  the 
jack.  No  fear,  Davie!" 

"  Whatever  sins  may  be  theirs,  Benja- 
min, those  sins  need  not  be  mine." 


Connor  was  dumb. 

"  Because  they  are  foolish,"  said  David, 
"  should  I  take  advantage  of  their  folly? 
A  new  man  comes  into  the  valley.  He 
sees  Jurith,  and  notices  that  she  runs  well 
in  spite  of  her  years.  He  says  to  me:1 
;  This  mare  will  run  faster  than  your  stal- 
lion. I  have  money  and  this  ring  upon  my 
finger  which  I  will  risk  against  one  dollar  of 
your  money;  if  the  mare  beats  Glani  I  take 
your  dollar.  If  Glani  beats  the  mare,  you 
take  my  purse  and  my  ring;  I  have  no  other 
wealth.  It  will  ruin  me,  but  I  am  willing 
to  be  ruined  if  Jurith  is  not  faster  than 
Glani. 

"  Suppose  such  foolish  man  were  to  come 
to  me,  Benjamin,  would  I  not  say  to  him: 
'  No,  my  friend.  For  I  understand  better 
than  you,  both  Jurith  and  Glani!'  Tell 
me  therefore,  Benjamin,  that  you  have 
tempted  me  toward  a  sin,  unknowing." 

It  made  Connor  think  of  the  stubborness 
of  a  woman,  or  of  a  priest.  It  was  a  quiet 
assurance  which  could  only  be  paralleled 
from  a  basis  of  religion  or  instinct.  He 
knew  the  danger  of  pressing  too  hard  upon 
this  instinct  or  blind  faith.  He  swallowed 
an  oath,  and  answered,  remembering  dim 
lessons  out  of  his  childhood: 

"  Tell  me,  David,  my  brother,  is  there  no 
fire  to  burn  fools?  Is  there  no  rod  for  the 
shoulders  of  the  proud?  Should  not  such 
men  be  taught?" 

k>  And  I  say  to  you,  Benjamin,"  said  the 
master  of  the  Garden:  "  what  wrong  have 
these  fools  done  to  me  with  their  folly?" 

Connor  felt  that  he  was  being  swept 
beyond  his  depth.  The  other  went  on, 
changing  his  voice  to  gentleness: 

"  No,  no!  I  have  even  a  kindness  for 
men  with  such  blind  faith  in  their  horses. 
When  Jacob  comes  to  me  and  says  pri- 
vately in  my  ear:  'David,  look  at  Hira. 
Is  she  not  far  nobler  and  wiser  than  Eph- 
raim's  horse,  Numan?'  When  he  says  this 
to  me,  do  I  shake  my  head  and  frown  and 
say:  '  Risk  the  clothes  on  your  back  and 
the  food  you  eat  to  prove  what  you  say.' 
No,  assuredly  I  do  neither  of  these  things, 
but  I  put  my  hand  on  his  shoulder  and  I 
say:  'He  who  has  faith  shall  do  great 
things;  and  a  tender  master  makes  a  strong 
cold.'  In  this  manner  I  speak  to  him, 


404  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY  WEEKLY. 

knowing  that  truth  is  good,  but  the  whole  "  No,  but  because  of  your  horses  the 

truth  is  sometimes  a  fire  that  purifies,  per-  world  will  ask  what  sort  of  a  man  you  are. 

haps,  but  it  also  destroy es.    So  Jacob  goes  People  will  follow  your  example.     They'll 

smiling  on  his  way  and  gives  kind  words  build  a  hundred  Gardens  of  Eden.     Every 

and  fine  oats  to  Hira."  one  of   those  valleys  will  be  full   of  the 

Connor  turned  the  flank  of  this  argu-  memories  of  David  and  the  men  who  went 

ment.  before   him.     Then,    David,    you'll   never 

l^These  men  are  blind.     You  say  that  die!" 

your  horses  can  run  a  mile  in  such  and  It  was  the  highest  flight  to  which  Con- 
such  a  time,  and  they  shrug  their  shoulders  nor's  eloquence  ever  attained.  The  results 
and  answer  that  they  have  heard  such  were  alarming.  David  spoke,  without  fac- 
chatter  before — from  trainers  and  stable  ing  his  companion,  thoughtfully, 
boys.  But  you  put  your  horse  on  a  race  "  Benjamin,  I  have  been  warned.  By 
track  and  prove  what  you  say,  and  they  sin  the  gate  to  the  Garden  was  opened,  and 
pay  for  knowledge.  Once  they  see  the  perhaps  sin  has  entered  in  you.  For  why 
truth  they  come  to  value  your  horses.  You  did  the  first  men  withdraw  to  this  valley, 
open  a  stud  and  your  breed  is  crossed  with  led  by  John,  save  to  live  apart,  perfect 
theirs.  The  blood  of  Rustir,  passing  lives?  And  you,  Benjamin,  wish  to  undo 
through  the  blood  of  Glani,  goes  among  the  all  that  they  accomplished." 
best  horses  of  the  world.  A  hundred  years  "  Only  the  horses,"  said  the  gambler, 
from,  now  there  will  be  no  good  horse  in  the  "  Who  spoke  of  taking  you  out  of  the 
world,  of  which  men  do  not  ask:  '  Is  the  Garden?" 

blood  of  Glani  in  him?   Is  he  of  the  line  of  Still  David  would  not  look  at  him. 
the  Eden  Grays?'    Consider  that,  David!"  "  God  grant  me  His  light,"  said  the  mas- 
He    found    the   master   of   the    Garden  ter  sadly.     "  You  have  stirred  and  troubled 
frowning.    He  pressed  home  the  point  with  me.     If  the  horses  go,  my  mind  goes  with 
renewed  vigor.  them.     Benjamin,  you  have  tempted  me. 

"  If  you  live  in  this  valley,  David,  what  Yet  another  thing  is  in  my  mind.     When 

will  men  know  of  you?"  Matthew  came  to  die  he  took  me  beside 

"  Have  you  come  to  take  me  out  of  the  him  and  said: 

Garden  of  Eden?"  "  '  David,  it  is  not  well  that  you  should 

"  I  have  come  to  make  your  influence  lead  a  lonely  life.    Man  is  made  to  live,  and 

pass  over  the   mountains   while  you   stay  not  to  die.  Take  to  yourself  a  woman,  when 

here.    A  hundred  years  from  now  who  will  I  am  gone,  wed  her,  and  have  children,  so 

know  David  of  the  Garden  of  Eden?     Of  that  the  spirit  of  John  and  Matthew  and 

the  men  who  used  to  live  here,  who  re-  Luke  and  Paul  shall  not  die.    And  do  this 

mains?   Not  one!    Where  do  they  live  now?  in  your  youth,  before  five  years  have  passed 

Inside  your  head,  inside  your  head,  David,  you  by.' 

and  no  other  place!"  "  So  spoke  Matthew,  and  this  is  the  fifth 

"  They    live    with    God,"    said    David  year.    And  perhaps  the  Lord  works  in  you 

hoarsely.  to  draw  me  out,  that  I  may  find  this  wo- 

"  But  here  on  earth  they  don't  live  at  man.  Or  perhaps  it  is  only  a  spirit  of  evil 
all  except  in  your  mind.  And  when  you  that  speaks  in  you.  How  shall  I  judge? 
die,  they  die  with  you.  But  if  you  let  me  For  my  mind  whirls!" 
do  what  I  say,  a  thousand  years  from  to-  As  if  to  flee  from  his  thoughts,  the  mas- 
day,  people  will  be  saying:  '  There  was  a  ter  of  the  Garden  called  on  Glani,  and  the 
man  named  David,  and  he  had  these  gray  stallion  broke  into  a  full  gallop.  Shakra 
horses,  which  were  the  finest  in  the  world,  followed  at  a  pace  that  took  the  breath  of 
and  he  gave  their  blood  to  the  world.'  Connor,  but  instantly  she  began  to  fall 
They'll  pick  up  every  detail  of  your  life,  behind;  before  they  had  reached  the  lake 
and  they'll  trace  back  the  horses—  Glani  was  out  of  sight  across  the  bridge. 

"  Do  I  live  for  the  sake  of  a  horse?"  Full  of  alarm — full  of  hope  also — Con- 
cried  David,  in  a  voice  unnaturally  high.  nor  reached  the  house.     In  the  patio  he 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


405 


found  Zacharias  standing  with  folded  arms 
before  a  door. 

"  I  must  find  David  at  .once/'  he  told 
the  negro.  "  Where  has  he  gone?" 

"  Up,''  said  the  servant,  and  pointed  sol- 
emnly above  him. 

"Nonsense!"  He  added  impatiently: 
"  Where  shall  I  find  him,  Zacharias?" 

But  again  the  negro  waved  to  the  blue 
sky. 

"  His  body  is  in  this  room,  but  his  mind 
is  with  Him  above  the  world." 

There  was  something  in  this  that  made 
Connor  uneasy  as  he  had  never  been  be- 
fore. 

"  You  may  go  into  any  room  save  the 
Room  of  Silence,"  continued  Zacharias, 
"  but  into  this  room  only  David  and  the 
four  before  him  have  been.  This  is  the  holy 
place." 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

VICTORY. 

GLANI  waited  in  the  patio  for  the  re- 
appearance of  the  master,  and  as 
Connor  paced  with  short,  nervous 
steps  on  the  grass  at  every  turn  he  caught 
the  flash  of  the  sun  on  the  stallion.  Above 
his  selfish  greed  he  had  one  honest  desire: 
he  would  have  paid  with  blood  to  see  the 
great  horse  face  the  barrier.  That,  how- 
ever was  beyond  the  reach  of  his  ambi- 
tion, and  therefore  the  beauty  of  Glani  was 
always  a  hopeless  torment. 

The  quiet  in  the  patio  oddly  increased 
his  excitement.  It  was  one  of  those  bright, 
still  days  when  the  wind  stirs  only  in  soft 
breaths,  bringing  a  sense  of  the  open  sky. 
Sometimes  the  breeze  picked  up  a  handful 
of  drops  from  the  fountain  and  showered 
it  with  a  cool  rustling  on  the  grass.  Some- 
times it  flared  the  tail  of  Glani;  sometimes 
the  shadow  of  the  great  eucalyptus  which 
stood  west  of  the  house  quivered  on  the 
turf. 

Connor  found  himself  looking  minutely 
at  trivial  things,  and  in  the  meantime  Da- 
vid Eden  in  his  room  was  deciding  the  fate 
of  the  American  turf.  Even  Glani  seemed 
to  know,  for  his  glance  never  stirred  from 
the  door  through  which  the  master  had 


disappeared.  What  a  horse  the  big  fellow 
was!  He  thought  of  the  stallion  in  the 
paddock  at  the  track.  He  heard  the  thou- 
sands swarm  and  the  murmur  which  comes 
deep  out  of  a  man's  throat  when  he  sees  a 
great  horse. 

The  palms  of  Connor  were  wet  with 
sweat.  He  kept  rubbing  them  dry  on  the 
hips  of  his  trousers.  Rehearsing  his  talk 
with  David,  he  saw  a  thousand  flaws,  and 
a  thousand  openings  which  he  had  missed. 
Then  all  thought  stopped;  David  had  come 
out  into  the  patio. 

He  came  straight  to  Connor,  smiling,  and 
he  said: 

"  The  words  were  a  temptation,  but  the 
mind  that  conceived  them  was  not  the  mind 
of  a  tempter." 

Ineffable  assurance  and  good  will  shone 
in  his  face,  and  Connor  cursed  him  si- 
lently. 

"  I,  leaving  the  valley,  might  be  lost  in 
the  torrent.  And  neither  the  world  nor  I 
should  profit.  But  if  I  stay  here,  at  least 
one  soul  is  saved  to  God." 

"  Your  own?"  muttered  Connor.  But  he 
managed  to  smile  above  his  rage.  "  And 
after  you,"  he  concluded,  "  what  of  the 
horses,  David?" 

"  My  sons  shall  have  them." 

"  And  if  you  have  no  sons?" 

"  Before  my  death  I  shall  kill  all  of  the 
horses.  They  are  not  meant  for  other  men 
than  the  sons  of  David." 

The  gambler  drew  off  his  hat  and  raised 
his  face  to  the  sky,  asking  mutely  if  Heaven 
would  permit  this  crime. 

"  Yet,"  said  David,  "  I  forgive  you/' 

"  You  forgive  me?"  echoed  Connor 
through  his  teeth. 

"  Yes,  for  the  fire  of  the  temptation  has 
burned  out.  Let  us  forget  the  world  be- 
yond the  mountains." 

"  What  is  your  proof  that  you  are  right 
in  staying  here?" 

"  The  voice  of  God." 

"  You  have  spoken  to  Him,  perhaps?" 

The  irony  passed  harmless  by  the  raised 
head  of  David. 

"  I  have  spoken  to  Him,"  he  asserted 
calmly. 

'•  I  see,"  nodded  the  gambler.  "  You 
keep  Him  in  that  room,  no  doubt?" 


406  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

"  It  is  true.    His  spirit  is  in  the  Room  of  "  I've  got  a  lot  to  do,"  he  explained. 

Silence."  "  I  only  stopped  over  to  rest  my  nags,  in 

"You've  seen  His  face?"  the  first  place.     Then  this  other  idea  came 

A  numbness  fell  on  the  mind  of  Connor  along,  but  since  the  voice  has  rapped  it 

as  he  saw  his  hopes  destroyed  by  the  demon  there's  nothing  for  me  to  do  but  to  get  on 

of  bigotry.  my  way  again." 

"  Only  His  voice  has  come  to  me,"  said  "  It  is  a  long  trip?" 

David.  "  Long  enough." 

"  It  speaks  to  you?"  "  The    Garden    of    Eden    is    a    lonely 

"  Yes."  place." 

Connor  stared  in  actual  alarm,  for  this  "  You'll  have  the  voice  to  cheer  you  up." 

was  insanity.  '  The  voice  is  an  awful  thing.     There  is 

"  The  four,"  said  David,  "  spoke  to  Him  no    companionship    in    it.     This    thought 

always  in  that  room.     He  is  there.     And  comes  to  me.     Leave  the  mule  and   the 

when  Matthew  died  he  gave  me  this  as-  horse.     Take  Shakra.     She  will  carry  you 

surance — that  while  the  walls  of  this  house  swiftly  and  safely  over  the  mountains  and 

stood  together  God  would  not  desert  me  bring   you   back   again.     And   I   shall   be 

or  fail  to  come  to  me  in  that  room  until  happy  to  know  that  she  is  with  you  while 

I   love   another   thing   more    than    I    love  you  are  away.     Then  go,  brother,  if  you 

God."  must,  and  return  in  haste." 

"  And   how,    David,    do    you    hear    the  It  was  the  opening  of  the  gates  of  heaven 

voice?     For  while  you  were  there  I  was  in  to  Connor  at  the  very  moment  when  he  had 

the  path,  close  by,  and  yet  I  heard  no  surrendered  the  last  hope.    He  heard  David 

whisper  of  a  sound  from  the  room."  call  the  servants,  heard  an  order  to  bring 

"  I  shall  tell  you.  When  I  entered  the  Shakra  saddled  at  once.  The  canteen  was 
Room  of  Silence  just  now  your  words  had  being  filled  for  the  journey.  Into  the  in- 
set me  on  fire.  My  mind  was  hot  with  credulous  mind  of  the  gambler  the  truth 
desire  of  power  over  other  men.  I  forgot  filtered  by  degrees,  as  candlelight  probes  a 
the  palace  you  built  for  me  with  your  prom-  room  full  of  treasure,  flashing  ever  and 
ises.  And  then  I  knew  that  it  had  been  anon  into  new  corners  filled  with  undiscov- 
a  temptation  to  sin  from  which  the  voice  ered  riches, 
was  freeing  me.  Shakra  was  his  to  ride  over  the  moun- 

"  Could  a  human  voice  have  spoken  more  tains.     And  why  stop  there?     There  was 

clearly  than  that  voice  spoke  to  my  heart?  no  mark  on  her,  and  his  brand  would  make 

Anxiously  I  called  before  my  eyes  the  image  her  his.     She  would  be  safe  in  an  Eastern 

of  Benjamin  to  ask  for  His  judgment,  but  racing  stable  before  they  even  dreamed  of 

your   face   remained   an  unclouded   vision  pursuit.     And   when   her  victories  on  the 

and  was  not  dimmed  by  the  will  of  the  Lord  track  had  built  his  fortune  he  could  return 

as  He  dims  creatures  of  evil  in  the  Room  of  her,  and  raise  a  breed  of  peerless  horses. 

Silence.    Thereby  I  knew  that  you  are  in-  A  theft?     Yes,  but  so  was  the  stealing  of 

deed  my  brother."  the  fire  from  heaven  for  the  use  of  man- 

The  brain  of  Connor  groped  slowly  in  the  kind. 

rear  of  these  words.     He  was  too  stunned  He  would  have  been  glad  to  leave  the 

by   disappointment   to    think   clearly,   but  Garden  of  Eden  at  once,  but  that  was  not 

vaguely  he  made  out  that  David  had  dis-  in  David's  scheme  of  things.     To  him  a 

missed  the  argument  and  was  now  asking  departure  into  the  world  beyond  the  moun- 

him  to  come  for  a  walk  by  the  lake.  tains  was  as  a  voyage  into  an  uncharted 

"  The  lake's  well  enough,"  he  answered,  sea.     His  dignity  kept  him   from  asking 

"  but  it  occurs  to  me  that  I've  got  to  get  on  questions,  but  it  was  obvious  that  he  was 

with  my  journey."  painfully  anxious  to  learn  the  necessity  of 

"  You  must  leave  me?"  Connor's  going. 

There  was  such  real  anxiety  in  his  voice  That  night  in  the  patio  he  held  forth  at 

that  Connor  softened  a  little.  length   of  the  things  they   would  do   to- 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


407 


gether  when  the  gambler  returned.  "  The 
Garden  is  a  book,"  he  explained.  ''  And  I 
must  teach  you  to  turn  the  pages  and  read 
in  them." 

There  was  little  sleep  for  Connor  that 
night.  He  lay  awake,  turning  over  the  pos- 
sibilities  of  a  last  minute  failure,  and  when 
he  finally  dropped  into  a  deep,  aching 
slumber  it  was  to  be  awakened  almost  at 
once  by  the  voice  of  David  calling  in  the 
pat'w.  He  wakened  and  found  it  was  the 
pink  of  the  dawn. 

"  Shakra  waits  at  the  gate  of  the  patio, 
Start  early,  Benjamin,  and  thereby  you  will 
return  soon." 

It  brought  Connor  to  his  feet  with  a 
leap.  As  if  he  required  urging!  Through 
the  hasty  breakfast  he  could  not  retain  his 
joyous  laughter  until  he  saw  David  grow- 

,  i      ,-    i          T-»  t  i          if 

mg  thoughtful.  But  that  breakfast  was 
over,  and  David's  kind  solicitations,  at 
length.  Shakra  was  brought  to  him;  his 
feet  were  settled  into  the  stirrups,  and  the 
dream  changed  to  a  sense  of  the  glorious 
reality.  She  was  his  —  Shakra! 

"  A  journey  of  happiness  for  your  sake 
and  a  speed  for  mine,  Benjamin.'' 

Connor  looked  down  for  the  last  time 
into  the  face  of  the  master  of  the  Garden, 
half  wild  and  half  calm  —  the  face  of  a 
savage  with  the  mind  of  a  man  behind  it. 
"'  If  he  should  take  my  trail  !  "  he  thought 

with  horror. 

,    . 
•'  Good-by!"  he  called  aloud,  and  in  a 

burst  of  joy  and  sudden  compunction, 
"  God  bless  you,  David!" 

"  He  has  blessed  me  already,  for  He  has 

(  -^~A  » 
given  to  me  a  friend. 

A  touch  of  the  rope  —  for  no  Eden  Gray 
would  endure  a  bit  —  whirled  Shakra  and 
sent  her  down  the  terraces  like  the  wind. 
The  avenue  of  the  eucalyptus  trees  poured 
behind  them,  and  out  of  this,  with  aston- 
ishing  suddenness,  they  reached  the  gate. 

The  fire  already  burned,  for  the  night 
was  hardly  past,  and  Joseph  squatted  like 
a  great  ape,  with  the  thin  smoke  blowing 
across  his  face  unheeded.  He  was  grin- 
ning  with  savage  hatred  and  the  thick  lips 
were  muttering. 

Connor  knew  what  profound  curse  was 
being  called  down  upon  his  head,  but  he 
had  only  a  careless  glance  for  Joseph.  His 


eye  up  yonder  where  the  full  morning  shone 
on  the  mountains,  his  mind  was  out  in  the 
world,  at  the  race  track,  seeing  in  prospect 
beautiful  Shakra  fleeing  away  from  the 
finest  of  the  thoroughbreds.  And  he  saw 
the  face  of  Ruth,  as  her  eyes  would  light 
at  the  sight  of  Shakra.  He  could  have  burst 
into  song. 

Indeed,  all  the  destiny  of  the  two  races, 
white  and  black,  was  in  that  picture,  Con- 
nor  looking  forward,  high-headed,  and  the 
negro  crouched  with  the  smoke  drifting  in 
his  face.  The  gambler  threw  up  his  arm 
with  a  low  shout,  and  Shakra  burst  into 
full  gallop  down  the  ravine. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 
VFIVFT    TOUCH 

i-tiiij     v  JbL*  vn  1      i  UU  v*ri, 

HEN  Ruth  Manning  read  the  note 
through  for  the  first  time  she  raised 
her  glance  to  the  bearer.  The  boy 
was  so  sun-blackened  that  the  paler  skin 
of  the  eyelids  made  his  eyes  seem  supreme- 
ly  large.  He  was  now  poised  accurately 
on  one  foot,  rubbing  his  calloused  heel  up 
and  down  his  skin,  while  he  drank  in  the 
particulars  of  the  telegraph  office.  He 
could  hardly  be  a  party  to  a  deception. 
She  looked  over  the  note  again,  and  read: 

DEAR  Miss  MANNING: 

I  am  a  couple  of  miles  out  of  Lukin.  in  a 
pkce  to  whicph  thg  bearer  of  this  not;  wiu 

bring  yoiL  j  am  sure  yOU  will  come,  for  I  am 
in  trouble,  out  of  which  you  can  very  easily 
help  me.  It  is  a  matter  which  I  cannot  con- 
nde  to  ar>y  other  person  in  Lukin.  I  am 
^patiently  expecting  you. 

BEN  CONNOR. 

She  crumpled  the  note  in  her  hand 
thoughtfully,  but,  on  the  verge  of  dropping 
it  in  the  waste  basket,  she  smoothed  it 
again,  and  for  the  third  time  went  over 
the  contents.  Then  she  rose  abruptly  and 
confided  her  place  to  the  lad  who  idled  at 
the  counter. 

"  The  wire's  dead,"  she  told  him.  <  Be- 
sides,  I'll  be  back  in  an  hour  or  so." 

And  she  rode  off  a  moment  later  with  the 
boy.  He  had  a  blanket-pad  without  stir- 
rups,  and  he  kept  prodding  the  sliding  el- 
bows  of  the  horse  with  his  bare  toes  while 


408   .  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 

he  chattered  at  Ruth,  for  the  drum  of  the  quip.     With  the  familiarity  of  years,  she 

sounder  had  fascinated  him  and  he  wanted  knew,  they  lost  both  their  sullenness  and 

it  explained.     She  listened  to  him  with  a  their    starched    politeness.     They    became 

smile  of  inattention,  for  she  was  thinking  kindly,  gentle  men  with  infinite  patience, 

busily  of  Connor.     Those  thoughts  made  infinite    devotion    to    their    "  womenfolk." 

her  look  down  to  the  dust  that  puffed  up  Homelier  girls  in  Lukin  had  an  easier  time 

from  the  feet  of  the  horses  and  became  a  with  them.     But  in  the  presence  of  Ruth 

light  mist  behind  them;   then,  raising  her  Manning,  who  was  a  more  or  less  celebrated 

head,  she  saw  the  blue  ravines  of  the  farther  beauty,  they  were  a  hopeless  lot.    In  short, 

mountains   and   the   sun   haze   about   the  she  had  all  her  life  been  in  an  amphibious 

crests.    Connor  had  always  been  to  her  as  position,  of  the  mountain  desert  and  yet  not 

the  ship  is  to  a  traveler;   the  glamour  of  of  the  mountain  desert.    On  the  one  hand 

strange  places  was  about  him.  she  despised  the  "  slick  dudes  "  who  now 

Presently  they  left  the  trail,  and  passing  and  again  drifted  into  Lukin  with  marvel- 
about  a  hillside,  came  to  an  old  shack  whose  ous  neckties  and  curiously  patterned 
unpainted  wood  had  blackened  with  time.  clothes;  on  the  other  hand,  something  in 

"  There  he  is,"  said  the  boy,  and  waving  her  revolted  at  the  thought  of  becoming  one 

his  hand  to  her,  turned  his  pony  on  the  back  of  the  ''  womenfolk." 

trail  at  a  gallop.  As  a  matter  of  fact  there  are  two  things 

Connor  called  to  her  from  the  shack  and  which  every  young  girl  should  have.    The 

came  to  meet  her,  but  she  had  dismounted  first  is  the  presence  of  a  mother,  which  is 

before  he  could  reach  th"e  stirrup.    He  kept  the  oldest  of  truisms;    the  second  is  the 

her  hand  in  his  for  a  moment  as  he  greeted  friendship  of  at  least  one  man  of  nearly  her 

her.     It  surprised  him  to  find  how  glad  he  own  age.     Ruth  had  neither.     That  is  the 

was  to  see  her.    He  told  her  so  frankly.  crying  hurt  of  Western  life.    The  men  are 

"  After  the  mountains  and  all  that,"  he  too  busy  to  bother  with  women  until  the 
said  cheerfully,  "  it's  like  meeting  an  old  need  for  a  wife  and  a  home  and  children, 
chum  again  to  see  you.  How  have  things  and  all  the  physical  destiny  of  a  man,  over- 
been  going?"  whelms  them.  When  they  reach  this  point 

This  direct  friendliness  in  a  young  man  there  is  no  selection.     The  first  girl  they 

was  something  new  to  the  girl.    The  youths  meet  they  make  love  to. 

who  came  in  to  the  dances  at  Lukin  were  And  most  of  this  Ruth  understood.     She 

an  embarrassed  lot  who  kept  a  sulky  dis-  wanted  to  make  some  of  those  lumbering, 

tance,  as  though  they  made  it  a  matter  of  fearless,  strong-handed,  gentle-souled  men 

pride  to  show  that  they  were  able  to  resist  her  friends.     But  she  dared  not  make  the 

the  attraction  of  a  pretty  girl.     But  if  she  approaches.     The  first  kind  word  or  the 

gave  them  the  least  encouragement,  the  mer-  first  winning  smile  brought  forth  a  volley 

est  shadow  of  a  friendly  smile,  they  were  at  of  tremendous  compliments,  close  on  the 

once    all    eagerness.      They    would    flock  heels  of  which  followed  the  heavy  artillery 

around  her,  sending  savage  glances  at  one  of  a  proposal  of  marriage.    Xo  wonder  that 

another,   and   simpering   foolishly   at   her.  she  was  rejoiced  beyond  words  to  meet  this 

They  had  stock  conversation  of  politeness:  frank   friendliness  in   Ben   Connor.      And 

they  forced  out  prodigious  compliments  to  what  a  joy  to  be  able  to  speak  back  freely, 

an  accompaniment  of  much  writhing.  Social  without   putting  a   guard   over   eyes   and 

conversation  was  a  torture  to  them,  and  the  voice! 

girl  knew  it.  "  Things  have  gone  on  just  the  same — 

Not  that  she  despised  them.    She  under-  but  I've  missed  you  a  lot!" 
stood  perfectly  well  that  most  of  them  were  "  That's  good  to  hear." 
fine  fellows  and  strong  men.    But  their  tal-  "  You  see,"  she  explained,  "  I've  been  liv- 
en ts  had  been  cultivated  in  roping  two-year-  ing  in  Lukin  with  just  half  a  mind — the 
olds  and  bulldogging  yearlings.    They  could  rest  of  it  has  been  living  off  the  wire.    And 
encounter  the  rush  of  a  mad  bull  far  more  you're    about    the    only    interesting    thing 
easily  than  they  could  withstand  a  verbal  that'?  come  to  me  except  in  the  Morse." 


THE   GARDEN   OF   EDEN.  409 

And  what  a  happiness  to  see  that  there  looked  at  him  with  a  misty  content.  The 
was  no  stiffening  of  his  glance  as  he  tried  mountains  had  already  done  him  good.  The 
to  read  some  profound  meaning  into  her  sharp  sun  had  flushed  him  a  little  and  tinted 
words!  He  accepted  them  as  they  were,  his  cheeks  and  strong  chin  with  tan.  He 
with  a  good-natured  laughter  that  warmed  looked  more  manly,  somehow,  and  stronger 
her  heart.  in  himself.  Of  course  he  had  flattered  her, 
"  Sit  down  over  here,"  he  went  on,  spread-  but  the  feeling  that  she  had  actually  helped 
ing  a  blanket  over  a  chairlike  arrangement  him  so  much  by  merely  listening  on  that 
of  two  bowlders.  "  You  look  tired  out."  other  night  wakened  in  her  a  new  self- 
She  accepted  with  a  smile,  and  letting  her  reverence.  She  was  too  prone  to  look  on 
head  go  back  against  the  upper  edge  of  the  life  as  a  career  of  manlike  endeavor;  it 
blanket  she  closed  her  eyes  for  a  moment  was  pleasant  to  know  that  a  woman  could 
and  permitted  her  mind  to  drift  into  utter  accomplish  something  even  more  important 
relaxation.  by  simply  sitting  still  and  listening.  He 
"  I  am  tired,"  she  whispered.  It  was  in-  was  watching  her  gravely  now,  even  though 
expressibly  pleasant  to  lie  there  with  the  she  permitted  herself  the  luxury  of  smiling 
sense  of  being  guarded  by  this  man.  "  They  at  him. 

never  guess  how  tired  I  get — never — never!  All  at  once  she  cried  softly:    "  Thank 

I  feel — I  feel — as  if  I  were  living  under  Heaven  that  you're  not  a  fool,  Ben  Con- 

the  whip  all  the  time."  nor!" 

"  Steady  up,  partner."    He  had  picked  up  "  What  do  you  mean  by  that?" 

that  word  in  the  mountains,  and  he  liked  it.  "  I  don't  think  I  can  tell  you."    She  add- 

"  Steady,  partner.     Everybody  has  to  let  ed  hastily:  "  I'm  not  trying  to  be  myste- 

yourself  go  and  tell  me  what's  wrong.     I  rious." 

may  not  be  able  to  fix  anything,  but  it  He  waved  the  need  of  an  apology  away, 
always  helps  to  let  off  steam."  "  Tell  you  what.  Never  knew  a  girlie  yet 
She  heard  him  sit  down  beside  her,  and  that  was  worth  her  salt  who  could  be  un- 
for  an  instant,  though  her  eyes  were  still  derstood  all  the  time,  or  who  even  under- 
closed,  she  stiffened  a  little,  fearful  that  he  stood  herself." 

would  touch  her  hand,  attempt  a  caress.  She  closed  her  eyes  again  to  ponder  this, 

Any  other  man  in  Lukin  would  have  be-  lazily.     She  could  not  arrive  at  a  conclu- 

come  familiar  long  ago.     But  Connor  did  sion,  but  she  did  not  care.     Missing  links 

not  attempt  to  approach  her.  in  this  conversation  were  not  vitally  im- 

'•  Turn  and  turn  about,"  he  was  saying  portant. 

smoothly.     When  I  went  into  your  tele-  "  Take  it  easy,   Ruth;    we'll   talk  later 

graph  office  the  other  night  my  nerves  were  on,"  he  said  after  a  time, 

in  a  knot.    Tell  you  straight  I  never  knew  She  did  not  look  at  him  as  she  answered: 

I  had  real  nerves  before.    I  went  in  ready  "  Tell  me  why?" 

to  curse  like  a  drunk.  When  I  saw  you,  There  was  a  sort  of  childlike  confiding  in 
it  straightened  me  out.  By  the  Lord,  it  all  this  that  troubled  Ben  Connor.  He 
was  like  a  cool  wind  in  my  face.  You  were  had  seen  her  with  a  mind  as  direct  and  an 
so  steady,  Ruth;  straight  eyes;  and  it  ironed  enthusiasm  as  strong  as  that  of  a  man.  This 
out  the  wrinkles  to  hear  your  voice.  I  relaxing  and  softening  alarmed  him,  because 
blurted  out  a  lot  of  stuff.  But  when  I  it  showed  him  another  side  of  her,  a  new 
remembered  it  later  on  I  wasn't  ashamed,  and  vital  side.  She  was  very  lovely  with 
I  knew  you'd  understand.  Besides,  I  knew  the  shadows  of  the  sombrero  brim  cutting 
that  what  I'd  said  would  stop  with  you.  across  the  softness  of  her  lips  and  setting 
Just  about  one  girl  in  a  million  who  can  aglow  the  clear  olive  tan  of  her  chin  and 
keep  her  mouth  shut — and  each  one  of  'em  throat.  Her  hand  lay  palm  upward  beside 
is  worth  her  weight  in  gold.  You  did  me  her,  very  small,  very  delicate  in  the  making, 
several  thousand  dollars'  worth  of  good  that  But  what  a  power  was  in  that  hand!  He 
night.  That's  honest!"  realized  with  a  thrill  of  not  unmixed  pleas- 
She  allowed  her  eyes  to  open,  slowly,  and  ure  that  if  the  girl  set  herself  to  the  task 


410  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

she  could  mold  him  like  wax  with  the  ges-  hard  to  look  at.    First  thing  you  know  you 

tures  of  that  hand.    If  into  the  softness  of  get  to  squinting  to  make  out  whether  that's 

her  voice    she   allowed   a   single   note   of  a  cactus  on  the  side  of  that  mountain  or  a 

warmth  to  creep,  what  would  happen  in  hundred-foot  pine  tree.     Might  be  either. 

Ben   Connor?     He  felt  within   himself  a  Can't  tell  the  distande  in  this  air.     Well, 

chord  ready  to  vibrate  in  answer.  you  begin  t#etftrint.    *]3ifi,%'s  how  the  people 

Now  he  caught  himself  leaning  a  little  around  here  get  that  long-distance  look  be- 
closer  to  study  the  purple  stain  of  weariness  hind  their  eyes  and  the  long-distance  wrin- 
in  her  eyelids.  Even  exhaustion  was  attrac-  kles  around  the  corners  of  their  eyes.  All 
tive  in  her.  It  showed  something  new,  and  the  men  have  those  wrinkles.  But  the  wo- 
newly  appealing.  Weariness  gave  merely  a  men  have  them,  too,  after  a  while.  You'll 
new  edge  to  her  beauty.  What  if  her  eyes,  get  them  after  a  while,  Ruth.  Wrinkles 
opening  slowly  now,  were  to  look  upon  him  around  the  eyes  and  wrinkles  in  the  mind 
not  with  the  gentleness  of  friendship,  but  to  match,  eh?" 

with  something  more — the  little  shade  of  Her  eyes  opened  at  last,  slowly,  slowly, 

difference  in  a  girl's  wide  eyes  that  admits  She  smiled  at  him  plaintively. 

a  man  to  her  secrets — and  traps  him  in  so-  "  Don't  I  know,  Ben?    It's  a  man's  coun- 

doing.  try.    It  isn't  made  for  woman." 

Ben  Connor  drew  himself  up  with  a  shake  "  Ah,  there  you've  hit  the  nail  on  the 

of  the  shoulders.     He  felt  that  he  must  head.    Exactly!    A  man's  country.    Do  you 

keep  careful  guard  from  now  on.    What  a  know  what  it  does  to  the  women?" 

power  she  was.    What  a  power!     If  she  set  "  Tell  me." 

herself  to  the  task  who  could  deal  with  her?  "  Makes  'em  like  the  men.    Hardens  their 

What  man  could  keep  from  her?    Then  the  hands  after  a  while.    Roughens  their  voices, 

picture  of  David  jumped  into  his  mind  out  Takes  time,  but  that's  what  comes  after  a 

of  nothingness.     And  on  the  heels  of  that  while.    Understand?" 

picture  the  inspiration  always  come  a  sud-  "  Oh,  don't  I  understand!" 

den  uplifting  of  the  heart,  surety,  intoxi-  And  he  knew  how  the  fear  had  haunted 

eating  insight.    He  wanted  to  jump  to  his  her,  then,  for  the  first  time, 

feet  and  shout  until  the  great  ravine  be-  "  What  does  this  dry,  hot  wind  do  to  you 

neath  them  echoed.    WTith  an  effort  he  re-  in   the  mountains?     What  does  it  do  to 

mained  quiet.    But  he  was  thinking  rapid-  your  skin?     Takes  the  velvet  off,  after  a 

ly — rapidly.     He  had  intended  to  use  her  while;  makes  it  dry  and  hard.    Lord,  girl, 

merely  to  arrange  for  shipping  Shakra  away  I'd  hate  to  see  the  change  it's  going  to 

from  Lukin  Junction.     For  he  dared  not  make  in  you!" 

linger  about  the  town  where  expert  horse  All  at  once  she  sat  up,  wide  awake. 

thieves  might  see  the  mare.    But  now  some-  "  What  are  you  trying  to  do  to  me,  Ben 

thing  new,  something  more  came  to  him.  Connor?" 

The  girl  was  a  power?    Why  not  use  her?  "  I'm  trying  to  wake  you  up." 

What  he  said  was:  "Do  you  know  why  "  I  am  awake.    But  what  can  I  do?" 

you  close  your  eyes?"  "  You   think  you're  awake,   but  you're 

Still  without  looking  up  she  answered:  not.    Tell  you  what  a  girl  needs,  a  stage — 

"  Why?"  just  like  an  actor.     Think  they  can  put 

"  All  of  these  mountains — you  see?"  She  on  a  play  with  these  mountains  for  a  set- 
did  not  see,  so  he  went  on  to  describe  them,  ting?  Never  in  the  world.  Make  the  ac- 
"  There's  that  big  peak  opposite  us.  Looks  tors  look  too  small.  Make  everything  they 
a  hundred  yards  away,  but  it's  two  miles,  say  sound  too  thin. 

Come  down  in  big  jags  and  walks  up  into  "  Same  way  with  a  girl.    She  needs  a  set- 

the  sky — Lord  knows  how  many  thousand  ting.    A  room,  a  rug,  a  picture,  a  comfor- 

feet.    And  behind  it  the  other  ranges  step-  table  chair,  and  a  dress  that  goes  with  it. 

ping  off  into  the  horizon  with  purple  in  the  Shuts  out  the  rest  of  the  world  and  gives 

gorges  and  mist  at  the  tops.     Fine  picture,  her  a  chance  to  make  a  man  focus  on  her — 

eh?     But  hard  to  look  at,  Ruth.     Mighty  see  her  behind  the  footlights.     See?" 


THE    GARDEN   OF    EDEN. 


411 


"  Yes,"  she  whispered. 

"  Do  you  know  what  I've  been  doing 
while  I  watched  you  just  now?" 

"  Tell  me." 

He  was  fighting  for  a  great  purpose  now, 
and  a  quality  of  easiest  emotion  crept  into 
his  voice.  "  Around  your  throat  I've  been 
running  an  edging  of  yellow  old  lace.  Under 
your  hand  that  was  lying  there  I  put  a  deep 
blue  velvet;  I  had  your  shoulders  as  white 
as  snow,  with  a  flash  to  'em  like  snow  when 
you  turned  in  the  light;  I  had  you  proud 
as  a  queen,  Ruth,  with  a  blur  of  violets  at 
your  breast.  I  took  out  the  tired  look  in 
your  tace.  Instead,  I  put  in  happiness." 

He  stopped  and  drew  a  long  breath. 

"  You're  pretty  now,  but  you  could  be— 
beautiful.    Lord,  what  a  flame  of  a  beauty 
you  could  be,  girl!  " 

Instead  of  flushing  and  smiling  under 
the  praise,  he  saw  tears  well  into  her  eyes 
and  her  mouth  grow  tremulous.  She  winked 
the  tears  away. 

"  What  are  you  trying  to  do,  Ben?  Make 
even-thing  still  harder  for  me?  Don't  you 
see  I'm  helpless — helpless?" 

And  instead  of  rising  to  a  wail  her  voice 
sank  away  at  the  end  in  despair. 

"  Oh,  you're  trapped  well  enough,"  he 
said.  "  I'm  going  to  bust  the  trap!  I'm 
going  to  give  you  your  setting.  I'm  going 
to  make  you  what  you  ought  to  be — beau- 
tiful!" 

She  smiled  as  at  any  unreal  fairy  tale. 

"  How?" 

"  I  can  show  you  better  than  I  can  tell 
you!  Come  here!"  He  rose,  and  she  was 
on  her  feet  in  a  flash.  He  led  the  way  to 
the  door  of  the  shack,  and  as  the  shadows 
fell  inside,  Shakra  tossed  up  her  head. 

The  girl's  bewildered  joy  was  as  great  as 
if  the  horse  were  a  present  to  her. 

"  Oh,  you  beauty,  you  beauty,"  she  cried. 

"  Watch  yourself,"  he  warned.  "  She's 
as  wild  as  a  mountain  lion.'' 

"  But  she  knows  a  friend!" 

Shakra  sniffed  the  outstretched  hand,  and 
then  with  a  shake  of  her  head  accepted 
the  stranger  and  looked  over  Ruth's  shoul- 
der at  Connor  as  though  for  an  explanation. 
Connor  himself  was  smiling  and  excited;  he 
drew  her  back  and  forgot  to  release  her 
hand,  so  that  they  stood  like  two  happy 


children  together.  He  spoke  very  softly 
and  rapidly,  as  though  he  feared  to  em- 
barrass the  mare. 

"  Look  at  the  head  first— then  the  bone 
in  the  foreleg,  then  the  length  above  her 
back — see  how  she  stands!  See  how  she 
stands!  And  those  black  hoofs,  hard  as 
iron,  I  tell  you — put  the  four  of  'em  in  my 
double  hands,  almost — ever  see  such  a  nick? 
But  she's  no  six  furlong  flash!  That  chest, 
eh?  Run  your  finger-tips  down  that  shoul- 
der!" 

She  turned  with  tears  of  pleasure  in  her 
eyes.  "  Ben  Connor,  you've  been  in  the 
valley  of  the  grays!" 

"  I  have.  And  do  you  know  what  it 
means  to  us?" 

"  To  us?" 

"  I  said  it.  I  mean  it.  You're  going  to 
share." 

..  T iy 

A —  * 

"  Look  at  that  mare  again!" 

She  obeyed. 

"  Say  something,  Ruth!" 

"  I  can't  say  what  I  feel!" 

"  Then  try  to  understand  this:  you're 
looking  at  the  fastest  horse  that  ever 
stepped  into  a  race  track.  You  understand  ? 
I'm  not  speaking  in  comparisons.  I'm  talk- 
ing the  cold  dopeT  Here's  a  pony  that 
could  have  given  Salvator  twenty  pounds, 
run  him  sick  in  six  furlongs,  and  walked 
away  to  the  finish  by  herself.  Here's  a 
mare  that  could  pick  up  a  hundred  and  fifty 
pounds  and  beat  the  finest  horse  that  ever 
faced  a  barrier  with  a  flyweight  jockey  in 
the  saddle.  You're  looking  at  history,  girl! 
Look  again!  You're  looking  at  a  cold  mil- 
lion dollars.  You're  looking  at  the  blood 
that's  going  to  change  the  history  of  the 
turf.  That's  what  Shakra  means!" 

She  was  trembling  with  his  excitement. 

"  I  see.     It's  the  sure  thing  you  were 
talking  about.    The  horse  that  can't  be  beat 
—that  makes  the  betting  safe?" 

But  Connor  grew  gloomy  at  once. 

"  What  do  you  mean  by  sure  thing?  If 
I  could  ever  get  her  safely  away  from  the 
post  in  a  stake  race,  yes;  sure  as  anything 
on  earth.  But  suppose  the  train  is  wrecked? 
Suppose  she  puts  a  foot  in  a  hole?  Suppose 
at  the  post  some  rotten,  cheap-selling  plater 
kicks  her  and  lays  her  up!" 


412  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

He  passed  a  trembling  hand  along  the         "  I'm  talking  shop.    I'm  talking  business, 

neck  of  Shakra.  Will  you  play  partners  with  me?" 

"  God,  suppose!"  "  To  the  very  end." 

"But  you  only  brought  one;  nothing  else        "  The  big  negro  doesn't  own  the  grays  in 

worth  while  in  the  valley?"  that  valley  they  call  the  Garden  of  Eden. 

"  Nothing  else?  I  tell  you,  the  place  They're  owfl^d  by  a  white  man.  They  call 
is  full  of  'em!  And  there's  a  stallion  as  him  David  Eden.  And  David  Eden  has 
much  finer  than  Shakra  as  she's  finer  than  never  been  out  in  the  world.  It's  part  of  his 
that  broken-down,  low-headed,  ewe-necked,  creed  not  to.  It's  part  of  his  creed,  how- 
straight-shouldered,  roach-backed  skate  you  ever,  to  go  out  just  once,  find  a  woman  for 
have  out  yonder!"  his  wife,  and  bring  her  back  with  him.  Is 

"  Mr.  Connor,  that's  the  best  little  pony  that  clear?" 
in  Lukin!      But  I  know — compared  with         "  I- 
this — oh,  to  see  her  run,  just  once!"  "  You're  to  go  up  there.    That  old  gray 

She  sighed,  and  as  her  glance  fell  Connor  gelding  we  saw  in  Lukin  the  day  of  the 

noted  her  pallor  and  her  weariness.     She  race.    I'll  finance  you  to  the  sky.    Ride  it 

looked  up  again,  and  the  great  eyes  filled  to  the  gates  of  the  Garden  of  Eden.    Tell 

her  face  with  loveliness.     Color,  too,  came  the  guards  that  you've  got  to  have  another 

into  her  cheeks  and  into  her  parted  lips.  horse  because  the  one  you  own  is  old.  Insist 

"You  beauty!"  she  murmured.     "You  on  seeing  David.     Smile  at  'em;   win  'em 

perfect,  perfect  beauty!"  over.    Make  them  let  you  see  David.    And 

Shakra  was  nervous  under  the  fluttering  the  minute  you  see  him,  he's  ours!     You 

hands,  but  in  spite  of  her  uneasiness  she  understand?    I  don't  mean  marriage.    One 

seemed  to  enjoy  the  light-falling  touches  un-  smile  will  knock  him  stiff.    Then  play  him. 

til  the  finger-tips  trailed  across  her  fore-  Get  him  to  follow  you  out  of  the  valley, 

head;  then  she  tossed  her  head  high,  and  Tell  him  you  have  to  go  back  home.    He'll 

the  girl  stood  beneath,  laughing,  delighted,  follow  you.    Once  we  have  him  outside  you 

Connor  found  himself  smiling  in  sympathy,  can  keep  him  from  going  back  and  you  can 

The  two  made  a  harmonious  picture.     As  make  him  bring  out  his  horses,  too.    Easy? 

harmonious,  say,  as  the  strength  of  Glani  It's  a  sure  thing!     WTe  don't  rob  him,  you 

and  the  strength  of  David  Eden.    His  face  see?     We  simply  use  his  horses.     I  race 

grew  tense  with  it  when  he  drew  the  girl  them  and  play  them.    I  split  the  winnings 

away.  with  you  and  David.    Millions,  I  tell  you; 

"  Would  you  like  to  have  a  horse  like  millions.    Don't  answer.    Gimme  a  chance 

that— half  a' dozen  like  it?"  to  talk!" 

The  first  leap  of  hope  was  followed  by  a         There   was   a   rickety   old   box   leaning 

wan  smile  at  this  cruel  mockery.  against  the  wall;  he  made  her  sit  on  it,  and 

He  went  on  with  brutal  tenseness,  jabbing  dropping  upon  one  knee,  he  poured  out  plan, 

the  points  at  her  with  his  raised  finger.  reason,  hopes,  ambitions  in  fierce  confusion. 

"  And  everything  else  you've  ever  want-  It  ended  logically  enough.  David  was  under 

ed:  swell  clothes?     Manhattan?    A  limou-  what  he  considered  a  divine  order  to  marry, 

sine  as  big  as  a  house  with  a.  vase  of  flowers  and  he  would  be  clay  in  the  hands  of  the 

in  it  and  everything?    A  butler  behind  your  first  girl  who  met  him.     She  would  be  a 

chair  and  a  maid  in  your  dressing  room?  fool  indeed  if  she  were  not  able  to  lead  him 

A  picture  in  the  papers  every  time  you  turn  out  of  the  valley. 

around   in  your   Newport   cottage?     You         "  Think  it  over  for  one  minute  before 

want  'em?"  you  answer,"  concluded  Connor,  and  then 

"  Do  I  want  heaven?"  rose  and  folded  his  arms.     He  controlled 

"  How  much  will  you  pay?"  his  very  breathing  for  fear  of  breaking  in 

He  urged  it  on  her,  towering  over  her  as  on  the  dream  which  he  saw  forming  in  her 

he  drew  close.  eyes. 

"  What's  it  worth?    Is  it  worth  a  fight?"         Then  she  shook  herself  clear  of  the  temp- 

"  It's  worth— everything."  tation. 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN.  413 

"  Ben,  it's  crooked!     I'm  to  lie  to  him—  He  was  purposely  making  the  task  diffi- 

live  a  lie  until  we  have  what  we  want!"  cult  and  he  saw  that  she  was  excited.    His 

"  God   A'mighty,   girl!      Don't  you  see  own  work  with  Ruth  Manning  was  as  difn- 

that  we'd  be  doing  the  poor  fathead  a  good  cult  as  hers  would  be  with  David.     The 

turn  by  getting  him  out  of  his  hermitage  fickle  color  left  her  all  at  once  and  he  found 

and  letting  him  live  in  the  world?     A  lie?  her  looking  wistfully  at  him. 

Call  it  that  if  you  want.    Aren't  there  such  She  returned  neither  answer,  argument, 

things  as  white  lies?     If  there  are,  this  is  nor  comment.    In  vain  he  detailed  each  step 

one  of  'em  or  I'm  not  Ben  Connor/'  of  her  way  into  the  Garden  and  how  she 

His  voice  softened.     "  Why,  Ruth,  you  could  pass  the  gate.    Sometimes  he  was  not 

know  damned  well  that  I  wouldn't  put  the  even  sure  that  she  heard  him,  as  she  lis- 

thing  up  to  you  if  I  didn't  figure  that  in  tened  to  the  silent  voice  which  spoke  against 

the  end  it  would  be  the  best  thing  in -the  him.    He  had  gathered  all  his  energy  for  a 

world    for    you?      I'm    giving    you    your  last  outburst,  he  was  training  his  tongue  for 

chance.    To  save  Dave  Eden  from  being  a  a    convincing    storm    of    eloquence,    when 

fossil.     To  earn  your  own   freedom.     To  Shakra,  as  though  she  wearied  of  all  this 

get  everything  you've  longed  for.    Think!"  human  chatter,  pushed  in  between  them  her 

"  I'm  trying  to  think — but  I  only  keep  beautiful  head  and  went  slowly  toward  Ruth 

feeling,  inside, '  It's  wrong!   It's  wrong!   It's  with  pricking  ears,  inquisitive,  searching  for 

wrong!'    I'm  not  a  moralizer,  but — tell  me  those  light,  caressing  touches, 

about  David  Eden!"  The  voice  of  Connor  became  an  insidious 

Connor  saw  his  opening.  whisper. 

"  Think  of  a  horse  that's  four  years  old  "  Look  at  her,  Ruth.    Look  at  her.    She's 

and  never  had  a  bit  in  his  teeth.     That's  begging  you  to  come.     You  can  have  her. 

David   Eden.     The   minute  you   see  him  She'll  be  a  present  to  you.    Quick!    What's 

you'll  want  to  tame  him.    But  you'll  have  the  answer!" 

to  go  easy.    Keep  gloves  on.    He's  as  proud  A  strange  answer!     She  threw  her  arms 

as  a  sulky  kid.    Kind  of  a  chap  you  can't  around  the  shoulder  of  the  beautiful  gray, 

force  a  step,  but  you  could  coax  him  over  buried  her  face  in   the  mane,  and  burst 

a  cliff.     Why.  he'd  be  thread  for  you  to  into  tears. 

wind  around  your  little  finger  if  you  worked  For  a  moment  Connor  watched  her,  dis- 

him  right.    But  it  wouldn't  be  easy.    If  he  mayed,  but  presently,  as  one  satisfied,  he 

had  a  single  suspicion  he'd  smash  every-  withdrew  to  the  open  air  and  mopped  his 

thing  in  a  minute,  and  he's  strong  enough  forehead.     It  had  been  hard  work,  but  it 

to  tear  down  a  house.     Put  the  temper  of  had  paid.    He  looked  over  the  distant  blue 

a  panther  in  the  size  of  a  bear  and  you  waves    of    mountains    with    the    eye    of 

get  a  small  idea  of  David  Eden."  possession. 

(To  be  continued  NEXT  WEEK.) 

tr  u  rr  rr 

AT   THE   FANCY   FAIR 

I  MET  her  at  a  Fancy  Fail- 
Behind  a  counter  selling, 
And  what  she  wouldn't  do  or  dare 

There  really  is  no  telling. 
Dear,  artless  creature,  even  now 

Methinks  your  modest  face  I  see — 
When  asked  for  change,  you  said,  "  Oh,  how 
Can  you  say  *  change  '  to  one  like  me?" 

La  Touche  Hancock. 


fames 


OF  course  there  ain't  supposed  to  be  A  pretty  good  share  of  the  men  folks  in 

no  such  thing  as  luck.     The  wise  Panther   Peak   didn't  lavish   a  wealth   of 

galoots  claim  that  layin'  what  hap-  love  and  affection  on  Mr.  Applegrass,  but  I 

pens  to  luck  is  just  as  foolish  as  expectin'  reckon  Blister  Burns  and  me  had  less  use 

good  fellowship   from  a  disrobin'   rattler,  for  this  hombre  than  the  rest  of  the  burg 

Honest  toil  and  square  shootin'  is  the  only  packed  in  a  bunch. 

things  which  brings  you  good  fortune  in  Blister  and  the  party  settin'  down  these 

this  sterlin'  world,   they  merrily  squawk,  lines  was  partners  in  the  same  oil  well  and 

Well,  mebbe.  But  I  been  roamin'  the  girl.  After  several  months'  hard  tryin'  we 
ranges  long  enough  to  come  to  some  con- 
clusions and  determinations  of  my  own. 
And  when  I  sees  hombres  which  don't  even 
know  what  is  the  wrong  side  of  a  hoss 
scoffin'  regularly  while  a  lotta  better  boys 

go  minus  the  old  grub  you  can't  tell  me  watched  one  another  like  a  pair  of  trigger 

there  ain't  no  luck.    I  can  prove  different,  fighters  attemptin'  to  get  the  drop.     Not 

Right  pronto   and  particular   comes   to  that  we   wasn't   good   friends   in   business 

mind  this  dude  festive  and  frolickin'  par-  hours.  But  Rose  Mclntyre  was  one  of  them 

ents   decided   to   call   Oswald   Applegrass.  girls  who  is  so  lurin'  to  the  eyes  that  a 

Nobody  named  nothin'  like  that  oughta  be  hombre  has  to  be  mighty  hard  cooked  to 

lucky,  but  if  the  noble  and  quick-shootin'  resist  'em.     The  minute  you  laid  lamps  on 

State  of  Montana  ever  sheltered  a  more  her  you  began  to  get  a  cravin'  for  a  home 

fortunate  buzzard  than  Oswald  I'll  make  and  fireside.     Blister  and  I  felt  the  same 

you  a  present  of  the  soprano- singin'  saddle-  way  about  it. 

horn.  Naturally  a  young  woman  so  good  look- 
Oswald  was  a  clerk  in  Panther  Peak's  in'  as  Rose  was  bound  to  attract  a  lotta 
one  and  only  shoe  store.     I  ain't  got  noth-  ambitious  and  admirin'  galoots.     However, 


had  struck  dog-gone  little  oil  and  seemed; 
to  be  deadlocked  with  the  lady.  She  liked 
Blister  as  well  as  me,  and  me  as  well  as 
Blister — and  didn't  get  too  excited  over 
either  of  us.  Mebbe  it  was  because  we 


in'  against  shoe  clerks  on  the  whole.  I 
realizes  and  appreciates  that  most  people 
can't  go  around  barefoot.  Somebody  has 
to  sell  'em  shoes.  But  I  draws  the  line  at 
Oswalds. 


Blister  and  I  teamed  up  to  discourage  the 
opposition  and  narrow  the  field  down  to 
where  we  could  battle  it  out  ourselves.  We 
got  away  with  it  until  Jerry  Nobson  im- 
ported a  shoe  clerk  and  give  Oswald  Apple- 


414 


Part  IV 


M©c>c  Breovcf 


Author  ol  "The  Untamed,"  "TraUin1,"  "The  Seventh  Man,"  "Black  Jack,"  etc. 


T1 


CHAPTER   XX. 

THE   FALSE  PROPHET. 

IHE  evil  at  heart,  when  they  wish 
to  take,  seem  to  give,"  said  Abra- 
ham, mouthing  the  words  with  his 
withered  lips,  and  he  came  to  one  of  his 
prophetic  pauses. 

The  master  of  the  Garden  permitted  it  to 
the  privileged  old  negro,  who  added  now: 
"  Benjamin  is  evil  at  heart." 

"  He  did  not  ask  for  the  horse,"  said 
David,  who  was  plainly  arguing  against  his 
own  conviction. 

"  Yet  he  knew."  The  ancient  face  of  Ab- 
raham puckered.  "  Po'  white  trash!"  he 
muttered.  Now  and  then  one  of  these 
quaint  phrases  would  break  through  his  ac- 
quired diction,  and  they  always  bore  home 
to  David  a  sense  of  that  great  world  beyond 
the  mountains.  Matthew  had  often  de- 
scribed that  world,  but  one  of  Abraham's 
odd  expressions  carried  him  in  a  breath  in- 
to cities  filled  with  men. 


as  I  would  miss  a  human  face.  But  Ben- 
jamin will  return  with  her.  He  did  not  ask 
for  the  horse." 

"  He  knew  you  would  offer." 

"He  will  not  return?" 

"Never!" 

"  Then  I  shall  go  to  find  him." 

"  It  is  forbidden." 

Abraham  sat  down,  cross-legged,  and 
watched  with  impish  self-content  while 
David  strode  back  and  forth  in  the  patio. 
A  far-off  neighing  brought  him  to  a  halt, 
and  he  raised  his  hand  for  silence.  The 
neighing  was  repeated,  more  clearly,  and 
David  laughed  for  joy. 

"  A  horse  coming  from  the  pasture  to  the 
paddock,"  said  Abraham,  shifting  uneasily. 

The  day  was  old  and  the  patio  was  filled 
with  a  clear,  soft  light,  preceding  evening. 

'  It  is  Shakra!    Shakra,  Abraham!" 

The  negro  rose. 

"  A  yearling.  It  is  too  high  for  the  voice 
of  a  grown  mare." 

"  The  distance  makes  it  shrill.     Abra- 


"  His  absence  is  cheaply  bought  at  the     ham,   Abraham,   cannot   I   find  her  voice 


price  of  one  mare,"  continued  the 


negro 


soothingly. 


among  ten  all  neighing  at  once?" 

"  Then  beware  of  Benjamin,  for  he  has 
;-  One  mare  of  Rustir's  blood!    What  is    returned  to  take  not  one  but  all." 
the  sin  for  which  the  Lord  would  punish         But  David  smiled  at  the  skinny  hand 
me  with  the  loss  of  Shakra?  And  I  miss  her     which  was  raised  in  warning. 
This  story  began  in  the  Argosy-Allstory  Weekly  for  April  15. 

573 


574 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


"  Say  no  more,"  he  said  solemnly.  "  I 
am  already  to  blame  for  hearkening  to 
words  against  my  brother  Benjamin." 

"  You  yourself  had  said  that  he  tempted 
you." 

Because  David  could  find  no  ready  re- 
tort he  grew  angry. 

"  Also,  think  of  this.  Your  eyes  and 
your  ears  are  grown  dull,  Abraham,  and 
perhaps  your  mind  is  misted  also." 

He  had  gone  to  the  entrance  into  the 
patio  and  paused  there  to  wait  with  a  lifted 
head.  Abraham  followed  and  attempted  to 
speak  again,  but  the  last  cruel  speech  had 
crushed  him.  He  went  out  on  the  terrace, 
and  looking  back  saw  that  David  had  not 
a  glance  for  him;  so  Abraham  went  feebly 
on. 

"  I  have  become  as  a  false  prophet,"  he 
murmured,  "  and  I  am  no  more  regarded." 

His  life  had  long  been  in  its  evening,  and 
now,  at  a  step,  the  darkness  of  old  age  fell 
about  him.  From  the  margin  of  the  lake 
he  looked  up  and  saw  Connor  ride  to  the 
'patio. 

David,  at  the  entrance,  clasped  the  hand 
of  his  guest  while  he  was  still  on  the  horse 
and  helped  him  to  the  ground. 

"  This,"  he  said  solemnly,  "  is  a  joyful 
day  in  my  house." 

"  What's  the  big  news?"  inquired  the 
gambler,  and  added:  "Why  so  happy?" 

"  Is  it  not  the  day  of  your  return? 
Isaac!  Zacharias!" 

They  came  running  as  he  clapped  his 
hands. 

"  Set  out  the  oldest  wine,  and  there  is  a 
haunch  of  the  deer  that  was  killed  at  the 
gate.  Go!  And  now,  Benjamin,  did  Sha- 
kra  carry  you  well  and  swiftly?" 

"  Better  than  I  was  ever  carried  before." 

"Then  she  deserves  well  of  me.  Come 
hither,  Shakra,  and  stand  behind  me. 
Truly,  Benjamin,  my  brother,  my  thoughts 
have  ridden  ten  times  across  the  mountains 
and  back,  wishing  for  your  return!" 

Connor  was  sufficiently  keen  to  know 
that  a  main  reason  for  the  warmth  of  his 
reception  wate  that  he  had  been  doubted 
while  he  was  away,  and  while  they  supped 
in  the  patio  he  was  even  able  to  guess  who 
had  raised  the  suspicion  against  him. 
Word  was  brought  that  Abraham  lay  in  his 


bed  seriously  ill,  but  David  Eden  showed 
no  trace  of  sympathy. 

"  Which  is  the  greater  crime?"  he  asked 
Benjamin  a  little  later.  "  To  poison  the 
food  a  man  eats  or  the  thoughts  in  his 
mind?" 

"  Surely,"  said  the  crafty  gambler,  "  the 
mind  is  of  more  importance  than  the  stom- 
ach." 

Luckily  David  bore  the  main  burden  of 
conversation  that  evening,  for  the  brain  of 
Connor  was  surcharged  with  impatient 
waiting.  His  great  plan,  he  shrewdly 
guessed,  would  give  him  everything  or  else 
ruin  him  in  the  Garden  of  Eden,  and  the 
suspense  was  like  an  eating  pain.  Luckily 
the  crisis  came  on  the  very  next  day. 

Jacob  galloped  into  the  patio,  and  flung 
himself  from  the  back  of  Abra. 

David  and  Connor  rose  from  their  chairs 
under  the  arcade  where  they  had  been 
watching  Joseph  setting  great  stones  in 
place  around  the  border  of  the  fountain 
pool.  The  master  of  the  Garden  went  for- 
ward in  some  anger  at  this  unceremonious 
interruption.  But  Jacob  came  as  one 
whose  news  is  so  important  that  it  overrides 
all  need  of  conventional  approach. 

"  A  woman,"  he  panted.  "  A  woman  at 
the  gate  of  the  Garden!" 

"  Why  are  you  here?"  said  David 
sternly. 

"  A  woman — " 

"  Man,  woman,  child,  or  beast,  the  law 
is  the  same.  They  shall  not  enter  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden.  Why  are  you  here?" 

u  And  she  rides  the  gray  gelding,  the  son 
of  Yoruba!" 

At  that  moment  the  white  trembling  lips 
of  Connor  might  have  told  the  master 
much,  but  he  was  too  angered  to  take  heed 
of  his  guest. 

"  That  which  has  once  left  the  Garden  is 
no  longer  part  of  it.  For  us,  the  gray  geld- 
ing does  not  exist.  Why  are  you  here?" 

"  Because  she  would  not  leave  the  gate. 
She  says  that  she  will  see  you." 

"  She  is  a  fool.  And  because  she  was  so 
confident,  you  were  weak  enough  to  believe 
her?" 

"  I  told  her  that  you  would  not  come; 
that  you  could  not  come!" 

"  You  have  told  her  that  it  is  impossible 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


575 


for  me  to  speak  with  her?"  said  David, 
while  Connor  gradually  regained  control  of 
himself  and  summoning  his  strength  for  the 
crisis. 

"  I  told  her  all  that,  but  she  said  never- 
theless she  would  see  you." 

"  For  what  reason?" 

"  Because  she  has  money  with  which  to 
buy  another  horse  like  her  gelding,  which 
is  old." 

"  Go  back  and  tell  her  that  there  is  no 
money  price  on  the  heads  of  my  horses. 
Go!  When  Ephraim  is  at  the  gate  there 
are  no  such  journey  ings  to  me." 

11  Ephraim  is  here,"  said  Jacob  stoutly, 
"  and  he  spoke  much  with  her.  Neverthe- 
less she  said  that  you  would  see  her." 

"  For  what  reason?" 

"  She  said:  '  Because.' : 

"  Because  of  what?" 

"  That  word  was  her  only  answer:  '  Be- 
cause ' 

"  This  is  strange,"  murmured  David, 
turning  to  Connor.  "  Is  that  one  word  a 
reason? 

"  Go  back  again,"  commanded  David 
grimly.  "  Go  back  and  tell  this  woman 
that  I  shall  not  come,  and  that  if  she  comes 
again  she  will  be  driven  away  by  force. 
And  take  heed,  Jacob,  that  you  do  not 
come  to  me  again  on  such  an  errand.  The 
law  is  fixed.  It  is  as  immovable  as  the 
rocks  in  the  mountains.  You  know  all  this. 
Be  careful  hereafter  that  you  remember. 
Be  gone!" 

The  ruin  of  his  plan  in  its  very,  inception 
threatened  Ben  Connor.  If  he  could  once 
bring  David  to  see  the  girl  he  trusted  in 
her  beauty  and  her  cleverness  to  effect  the 
rest.  But  how  lead  him  to  the  gate? 
Moreover,  he  was  angered  and  his  frown 
boded  no  good  for  Jacob.  The  old  negro 
was  turning  away,  and  the  gambler  hunted 
his  mind  desperately  for  an  expedient. 
Persuasion  would  never  budge  this  stub- 
born fellow  so  used  to  command.  There 
remained  the  opposite  of  persuasion.  He 
determined  on  an  indirect  appeal  to  the 
pride  of  the  master. 

"  You  are  wise,  David,"  he  said  solemn- 
ly. "  You  are  very  wise.  These  creatures 
are  dangerous,  and  men  of  sense  shun  them. 
Tell  your  servants  to  drive  her  away  with 


blows  <5f  a  stick  so  that  she  will  never  re- 
turn." 

"  No,  Jacob,"  said  the  master,  and  the 
negro  returned  to  hear  the  command. 
"  Not  with  sticks.  But  with  words,  for 
flesh  of  women  is  tender.  This  is  hard 
counsel,  Benjamin!" 

He  regarded  the  gambler  with  great  sur- 
prise. 

"  Their  flesh  may  be  tender,  but  their 
spirits  are  strong,"  said  Connor.  Th2  open- 
ing he  had  made  was  small.  At  least  he 
had  the  interest.  Of  David,  and  through 
that  entering  wedge  he  determined  to  drive 
with  all  his  might. 

"  And  dangerous,"  he  added  gravely. 

"Dangerous?"  said  the  master.  He 
raised  his  head.  "  Dangerous?" 

As  if  a  jackal  had  dared  to  howl  in  the 
hearing  of  the  lion. 

"  Ah,  David,  if  you  saw  her  you  would 
understand  why  I  warn  you!" 

"  It  would  be  curious.  In  what  wise 
does  her  danger  strike?" 

"  That  I  cannot  say.  They  have  a  thou- 
sand ways." 

The  master  turned  irresolutely  toward 
Jacob. 

"  You  could  not  send  her  away  with 
words?" 

"  David,  for  one  of  my  words  she  has  ten 
that  flow  with  pleasant  sound  like  water 
from  a  spring,  and  with  little  meaning,  ex- 
cept that  she  will  not  go." 

"You  are  a  fool!" 

"  So  I  felt  when  I  listened  to  her." 

"  There  is  an  old  saying,  David,  my 
brother,"  said  Connor,  "  that  there  is  more 
danger  in  one  pleasant  woman  than  in  ten 
angry  men.  Drive  her  from  the  gate  with 
stones!" 

"  I  fear  that  you  hate  women,  Benja- 
min." 

"  They  were  the  source  of  evil." 

"  For  which  penance  was  done." 

"  The  penance  followed  the  sin." 

"  God,  who  made  the  mountains,  the 
river  and  this  garden  and  man,  He  made 
woman  also.  She  cannot  be  all  evil.  I 
shall  go." 

kt  Then,  remember  that  I  have  warned 
you.  God,  who  made  man  and  woman, 
made  fire  also." 


576 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


"  And  is  not  fire  a  blessing?" 

He  smiled  at  his  triumph  and  this  con- 
test of  words. 

"  You  shall  go  with  me,  Benjamin." 

"I?    Never!" 

"  In  what  is  the  danger?" 

"  If  you  find  none,  there  is  none.  For 
my  part  I  have  nothing  to  do  with  women." 

But  David  was  already  whistling  to 
Glani. 

"  One  woman  can  be  no  more  terrible 
than  one  man,"  he  declared  to  Benjamin. 
"  And  I  have  made  Joseph,  who  is  great  of 
body,  bend  like  a  blade  of  grass  in  the 
wind." 

"  Farewell,"  said  Connor,  his  voice  trem- 
bling with  joy.  "  Farewell,  and  God  keep 
you!" 

"  Farewell,  Benjamin,  my  brother,  and 
have  no  fear." 

Connor  followed  him  with  his  eyes,  half- 
triumphant,  half-fearful.  What  would  hap- 
pen at  the  gate?  He  would  have  given 
much  to  see  even  from  a  distance  the  duel 
between  the  master  and  the  woman. 

At  the  gate  of  the  patio  David  turned 
and  waved  his  hand. 

"  I  shall  conquer!" 

And  then  he  was  gone. 

Connor  stared  down  at  the  grass  with  a 
cynical  smile  until  he  felt  another  gaze  upon 
him,  and  he  became  aware  of  the  little  beast 
— eyes  of  Joseph  glittering.  The  giant  had 
paused  in  his  work  with  the  stones. 

"What  are  you  thinking  of,  Joseph?" 
asked  the  gambler. 

The  negro  made  an  indescribable  gesture 
of  hate  and  fear. 

"  Of  the  whip! "  he  said.  "  I  also  opened 
the  gate  of  the  Garden.  On  whose  back 
•will  the  whip  fall  this  time?" 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE   HOMECOMING. 

NEAR  the  end  of  the  eucalyptus  avenue, 
and   close  to   the   gate,   David   dis- 
mounted and  made  Jacob  do  likewise. 
"  We  may  come  on  them  by  surprise  and 
listen,"  he  said.     "  A  soft  step  has  won 
great  causes." 

They    went    forward    cautiously,    inter- 


changing sharp  glances  as  though  they  were 
stalking  some  dangerous  beast,  and  so  they 
came  within  earshot  of  the  gate  and  shel- 
tered from  view  of  it  by  the  edge  of  the 
cliff.  David  paused  and  cautioned  his  com- 
panion with  a  mutely  raised  hand. 

"  He  lived  through  the  winter,"  Ephraim 
was  saying.  "  I  took  him  into  my  room 
and  cherished  him  by  the  warmth  of  my 
•fire  and  with  rubbing,  so  that  when  spring 
came,  and  gentler  weather,  he  was  still  alive 
—a  great  leggy  colt  with  a  backbone  that 
almost  lifted  through  the  skin.  Only  high, 
bright  eyes  comforted  me  and  told  me  that 
my  work  was  a  good  work." 

David  and  Jacob  interchanged  nods  of 
wonder,  for  Ephraim  was  telling  to  this  wo- 
man the  dearest  secret  of  his  life. 

It  was  how  he  had  saved  the  weakling 
colt,  Jumis,  and  raised  him  to  a  beautiful, 
strong  stallion,  only  to  have  him  die  sud- 
denly in  the  height  of  his  promise.  Certain- 
ly Ephraim  was  nearly  won  over  by  the 
woman;  it  threw  David  on  guard. 

"  Go  back  to  Abra,"  he  whispered. 
"  Ride  on  to  the  gate  and  tell  her  boldly 
to  be  gone.  I  shall  wait  here,  and  in  time 
of  need  I  shall  help  you.  Make  haste. 
Ephraim  grows  like  wet  clay  under  her  fin- 
gers. Ah,  how  wise  is  Benjamin!" 

Jacob  obeyed.  He  stole  away  and  pres- 
ently shot  past  at  the  full  gallop  of  Abra. 
The  stallion  came  to  a  sliding  halt,  and 
Jacob  spoke  from  his  back,  which  was  a 
grave  discourtesy  in  the  Garden  of  Eden. 

"  The  master  will  not  see  you,"  he  said. 
"  The  sun  is  still  high.  Return  by  the  way 
you  have  come;  you  get  no  more  from  the 
Garden  than  its  water  and  its  air.  He  does 
not  sell  horses." 

For  the  first  time  she  spoke,  and  at  the 
sound  of  her  voice  David  Eden  stepped  out 
from  the  rock;  he  remembered  himself  in 
time  and  shrank  back  to  shelter. 

"  He  sold  this  horse." 

"  It  was  the  will  of  the  men  before  David 
that  these  things  should  be  done,  but  the 
Lord  knows  the  mind  of  David  and  that 
his  heart  bleeds  for  every  gelding  that  leaves 
the  Garden.  See  what  you  have  done  to 
him!  The  marks  of  the  whip  and  the  spur 
are  on  his  sides.  Woe  to  you  if  David 
should  see  them!" 

6  A 


THE   GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


577 


She  cried  out  at  that  in  such  a  way  that 
David  almost  felt  she  had  been  struck. 

••It  was  the  work  of  a  drunken  half- 
breed,  and  not  mine." 

"  Then  God  have  mercy  on  that  man,  for 
if  the  master  should  see  him,  David  would 
have  no  mercy.  I  warn  you:  David  is  one 
with  a  fierce  eye  and  a  strong  hand.  Be 
gone  before  he  comes  and  sees  the  scars  on 
the  gray  horse." 

••  Then  he  is  coming?" 

She  is  quick,"  thought  David,  as  an 
embarrassed  pause  ensued.  '  Truly,  Ben- 
jamin was  right,  and  there  is  danger  in 
these  creatures." 

"  He  has  many  horses,"  the  girl  went  on, 
"  and  I  have  only  this  one.  Besides,  I 
would  pay  well  for  another." 

-  What  price?" 

"  He  should  not  have  asked, "  muttered 
David. 

u  Everything  that  I  have,"  she  was  an- 
swering, and  the  low  thrill  of  her  voice  went 
through  and  through  the  master  of  the 
Garden.  <;  I  could  buy  other  horses  with 
this. money,  but  not  another  like  my  gray. 
He  is  more  than  a  horse.  He  is  a  compan- 
ion to  me.  He  understands  me  when  I  talk, 
and  I  understand  him.  You  see  how  he 
stands  with  his  head  down?  He  is  not 
tired,  but  hungry.  When  he  neighs  in  a 
certain  way  from  the  corral  I  know  that  he 
is  lonely.  You  see  that  he  comes  to  me 
now?  That  is  because  he  knows  I  am  talk- 
ing about  him,  for  we  are  friends.  But 
he  is  old  and  he  will  die,  and  what  shall  I 
do  then?  It  will  be  like  a  death  in  my 
house!" 

Another  pause  followed. 

"  You  love  the  horse,"  said  the  voice  of 
Kphraim,  and  it  was  plain  that  Jacob  was 
beyond  power  of  speech. 

\nd  I  shall  pay  for  another.    Hold  out 
your  hand." 

"  I  cannot  take  it." 

Nevertheless,  it  seemed  that  he  obeyed, 
for  presently  the  girl  continued:  "  After 
my  father  died  I  sold  the  house.  It  was 
pretty  well  blanketed  with  a  mortgage,  but 
I  cleared  out  this  hundred  from  the  wreck. 
1  went  to  work  and  saved  what  I  could. 
Ten  dollars  every  month,  for  twenty  months 

you  can  count  for  yourself — makes  two 

7  A 


hundred,  and  here's  the  two  hundred  more 
in  your  hand.     Three  hundred  altogeth 
Do  you  think  it's  enough?" 

'*  If  there  were  ten  times  as  much,"  said 
Jacob,  ''  it  would  not  be  enough.  There — 
take  your  money.  It  is  not  enough.  There 
is  no  money  price  on  the  heads  of  the  mas- 
ter's horses." 

But  a  new  light  had  fallen  upon  David. 
Women,  as  he  had  heard  of  them,  were  idle 
creatures  who  lived  upon  that  which  men 
gained  with  sweaty  toil,  but  this  girl,  it 
seemed,  was  something  more.  She  was 
strong  enough  to  earn  her  bread,  and  some- 
thing more.  Money  values  were  not  clear 
to  David  Eden,  but  three  hundred  dollars 
sounded  a  very  considerable  sum.  He  de- 
termined to  risk  exposure  by  glancing 
around  the  rock.  If  she  could  work  like  a 
man  no  doubt  she  was  made  like  a  man 
and  not  like  those  useless  and  decorative 
creatures  of  whom  Matthew  had  often 
spoken  to  him.  with  all  their  graces  and 
voices. 

Cautiously  he  peered  and  he  saw  her 
standing  beside  the  old,  broken  gray  horse. 
Even  old  Ephraim  seemed  a  stahvart  figure 
in  comparison. 

At  first  he  was  bewildered,  and  then  he 
almost  laughed  aloud.  Was  it  on  account 
of  this  that  Benjamin  had  warned  him,  this 
fragile  girl?  He  stepped  boldly  from  be- 
hind the  rock. 

"  There  is  no  more  to  say,"  quoth  Jacob. 

"  But  I  tell  you,  he  himself  will  come." 

"  You  are  right,"  said  David. 

At  that  her  eyes  turned  on  him,  and 
David  was  stopped  in  the  midst  of  a  stride 
until  she  shrank  back  against  the  horse. 

Then  he  went  on,  stepping  softly,  his 
hand  extended  in  that  sign  of  peace  which 
is  as  old  as  mankind. 

tay  in  peace,"  said  David,  "  and  have 
no  fear.    It  is  I,  David." 

He  hardly  knew  his  own  voice,  it  was 
so  gentle.  A  twilight  dimness  seemed  to 
have  fallen  upon  Jacob  and  Ephraim,  and 
he  was  only  aware  of  the  girl.  Her  fear 
seemed  to  be  half  gone  already,  and  she 
even  came  a  hopeful  step  toward  him. 

"  I  knew  from  the  first  that  you  would 
come,"  she  said,  "  and  let  me  buy  one 
horse — you  have  so  many." 


578  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 

"  We  will  talk  of  that  later."  "  Peace,  Abra!"  commanded  the  master. 

"  David,"  broke  in  the  grave  voice  of  "  Oh,  unmannerly  colt!     It  would  be  other 

Ephraim,  "  remember  your  own  law!"  than  this  if  the  wise  Shakra  were  beneath 

He  looked  at  the  girl   instead  of  the  your  saddle." 

negro  as  he  answered:  "  Who  am  I  to  make  "  No,   I   am   content   with   Abra.     Let 

laws?    God  begins  where  David  leaves  off."  Shakra  be  for  your  servant." 

And  he  added:  "  What  is  your  name?"  '*  Not  servant,  but  friend — a  friend  whom 

"  Ruth."  Glani  chose  for  me.     Consider  how  fickle 

"  Come,  Ruth,"  said  David,  "  we  will  go  our  judgments  are  and  how  little  things 

home  together."  persuade  us.    Abraham  is  rich  in  words,  but 

She  advanced  as  one  in  doubt  until  the  his  face  is  ugly,  and  I  prefer  the  smooth 

shadow  of  the  cliff  fell  over  her.     Then  voice  of  Zacharias,  though  he  is  less  wise, 

she  looked  back  from  the  throat  of  the  I  have  grieved  for  this  and  yet  it  is  hard 

gate  and  saw  Ephraim  and  Jacob  facing  to  change.     But  a  horse  is  wiser  than  a 

her  as  though  they  understood  there  was  fickle-minded  man,  and  when  Glani  went 

no  purpose  in  guarding  against  what  might  to  the  hand  of  Benjamin  without  my  order, 

approach  the  valley  from  without  now  that  I  knew  that  I  had  found  a  friend." 

the  chief  enemy  was  within.    David,  in  the  She  knew  the  secret  behind  that  story, 

pause,  was  directing  Jacob   to  place  the  and  now  she  looked  at  David  with  pity, 

girl's  saddle  on  the  back  of  Abra.  "  In  my  house  you  will  meet  Benjamin," 

"  For  it  is  not  fitting,"  he   explained,  the  master  was  saying  thoughtfully,   evi- 

"  that  you  should  enter  my  garden  save  on  dently  encountering  a  grave  problem.     "  I 

one  of  my  horses.    And  look,  here  is  Glani."  have  said  that  little  things  make  the  judg- 

The  stallion  came  at  the  sound  of  his  ments  of  men!      If  a  young  horse  shies 

name.     She  had  heard  of  the  great  horse  once,  though  he  may  become  a  true  traveler 

from  Connor,  but  the  reality  was  far  more  and  a  wise  head,  yet  his  rider  remembers 

than  the  words.  the  first  jump  and  i\ever  uneasy  in  the 

"  And  this,  Glani,  is  Ruth."  saddle." 

She  touched  the  velvet  nose  which  was  She  nodded,  wondering  what  lay  behind 

stretched  inquisitively  toward  her,  and  then  the  explanation. 

looked  up  and  found  that  David  was  smil-  "  Or  if  a  snake  crosses  the  road  before  a 

ing.     A   moment   later   they  were  riding  horse,   at   that  place   the  horse   trembles 

side  by  side  down  the  avenue  of  the  eucalyp-  when  he  passes  again." 

tus  trees,  and  through  the  tall  tree-trunks  "Y 

new  vistas  opened  rapidly  about  her.  Every  She  found  it  strangely  pleasant  to  follow 

stride  of  Abra  seemed  to  carry  her  another  the  simple  processes  of  his  mind, 

step  into  the  life  of  David.  "  It  is  so  with  Benjamin.    At  some  time 

"  I  should  have  called  Shakra  for  you,"  a  woman  crosses  his  way  like  a  snake,  and 

said   David,   watching   her   with   concern,  because  of  her  he  has  come  to  hate  all 

"  but  she  is  ridden  by  another  who  has  the  women.    And  when  I  started  for  the  gate, 

right  to  the  best  in  the  Garden."  even  now,  he  warned  me  against  you." 

"  Even  Glani?"  The  clever  mind  of  the  gambler  opened  to 

"  Even  Glani,  save  that  he  fears  to  ride  her  and  she  smiled  at  the  trick, 

my  horse,  and  therefore  he  has  Shakra.    I  "  Yes,  it  is  a  thing  for  laughter,"  said 

am  sorry,  for  I  wish  to  see  you  together.  David   happily.     "  I   came   with  a  mind 

She  is  like  you — beautiful,   delicate,  and  armed  for  trouble — and  I  find  you,  whom  I 

swift."  could  break  between  my  hands." 

She  urged  Abra  into  a  shortened  gallop  He  turned,  casting  out  his  arms, 

with  a  touch  of  her  heel,  so  that  the  busi-  "  What  harm  have  I  received  from  you?" 

ness  of  managing  him  gave  her  a  chance  They  had  reached  the  head  of  the  bridge, 

to  cover  her  confusion.     She  could  have  and  even  as  David  turned  a  changing  gust 

smiled  away  a  compliment,  but  the  simplici-  carried  to  them  a  chorus  of  men's  voices, 

ty  of  David  meant  something  more.  David  drew  rein. 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEX. 


579 


There  is  a  death/'  he  said,  "  in  my 
household." 


CHAPTER  XXII, 

ELIJAH. 

THE  singing  took  on  body  and  form  as 
the  pitch  rose. 

"  There  is  a  deam,"  repeated 
David.  "  Abraham  is  dead,  the  oldest  and 
the  wisest  of  my  servants.  The  Lord  gave 
and  the  Lord  has  taken  away.  Glory  to  His 
name!" 

Ruth  was  touched  to  the  heart. 

•'  I  am  sony,"  she  said  simply. 

"  Let  us  rejoice,  rather,  for  Abraham  is 
happy.  His  soul  is  reborn  in  a  young  body. 
Do  you  not  hear  them  singing?  Let  us 
ride  on." 

He  kept  his  head  high  and  a  stereotyped 
smile  on  his  lips  as  the  horses  sprang  into 
a  gallop — that  breath-taking  gallop  which 
made  the  spirit  of  the  girl  leap;  but  she 
saw  his  breast  raise  once  or  twice  with  a 
sigh.  It  was  the  stoicism  of  an  Indian, 
she  felt,  and  like  an  Indian's  was  the  bronze- 
brown  skin  and  the  long  hair  blowing  in 
the  wind.  The  lake  was  beside  them  now, 
and  dense  forest  beyond  opening  into  pleas- 
ant meadows.  She  was  being  carried  back 
into  a  primitive  time  of  which  the  type 
was  the  man  beside  her.  Riding  without  a 
saddle  his  body  gave  to  the  swing  of  the 
gallop,  and  she  was  more  conscious  than 
ever  of  physical  strength. 

But  now  the  hoofs  beat  softly  on  the 
lawn  terraces,  and  in  a  moment  they  had 
stopped  before  the  house  where  the  death 
had  been.  She  knew  at  once.  The  empty 
arch  into  the  patio  of  the  servants'  house 
was  eloquent,  in  some  manner,  of  the  life 
that  had  departed.  Before  it  was  the  group, 
of  singers,  all  standing  quiet,  as  though 
their  own  music  had  silenced  them,  or  per- 
haps preparing  to  sing  again.  Connor 
had  described  the  old  negro,  but  she  was 
not  prepared  for  these  straight,  withered 
bodies,  these  bony,  masklike  faces,  and  the 
white  heads. 

All  in  an  instant  they  seemed  to  see  her, 
and  a  flash  of  pleasure  went  from  face  to 
face.  They  stirred,  they  came  toward  her 


with  glad  murmurs,  all  except  one,  the  old- 
est of  them  all,  who  remained  aloof  with 
his  arms  folded.  But  the  others  pressed 
close  around  her,  talking  excitedly  to  one 
another,  as  though  she  could  not  under- 
stand what  they  said.  And  she  would  never 
forget  one  who  took  her  hand  in  both  of 
his.  The  touch  of  his  fingers  was  cold  and 
as  dry  as  parchment.  ".Honey,  child,  God 
bless  your  pretty  face." 

Was  this  the  formal  talk  of  which  Connor 
had  warned  her?  A  growl  from  David 
drove  them  back  from  her  like  leaves  be- 
fore a  wind.  He  had  slipped  from  his  horse, 
and  now  walked  forward. 

"  It  is  Abraham?"  he  asked. 

•'  He  is  dead  and  glorious,"  answered 
the  chorus,  and  the  girl  trembled  to  hear 
those  time-dried  relics  of  humanity  speak 
so  cheerily  of  death. 

The  master  was  silent  for  a  moment, 
then:  "  Did  he  leave  no  message  for  me?" 

In  place  of  answering  the  group  shifted 
and  opened  a  passage  to  the  one  in  the  rear, 
who  stood  with  folded  arms. 

"  Elijah,  you  were  with  him?" 

"I  heard  his  last  words." 

"And  what  dying  message  for  David?" 

"  Death  sealed  his  lips  while  he  had  still 
much  to  say.  To  the  end  he  was  a  man  ol 
many  words.  But  first  he  returned  thanks 
to  our  Father  who  breathed  life  into  the 
clay." 

"  That  was  a  proper  thought,  and  I  see 
that  the  words  were  the  words  of  Abraham." 

"  He  gave  thanks  for  a  life  of  quiet  ease 
and  wise  masters  and  he  forgave  the  Lord 
the  length  of  years  he  was  kept  in  this 
world." 

"  In  that,"  said  David  gravely,  %i  I  seem 
to  hear  his  voice  speaking.  Continue." 

"  He  commanded  us  to  sing  pleasantly 
when  he  was  gone." 

>v  I  heard  the  singing  on  the  lake  road, 
It  is  well." 

"  Also,  he  bade  us  keep  the  first  master 
in  our  minds,  for  John,  he  said,  was  the 
beginning." 

At  this  the  face  of  David  clouded  a  little, 

"  Continue.    What  word  for  David?" 

Something  that  Connor  had  said  about 
the  pride  and  sulkiness  of  a  child  came  back 
to  Ruth. 


580 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


Elijah,  after  hesitation,  went  on:  "  He 
declared  that  Glani  is  too  heavy  in  the  fore- 
head." 

"  Yes,  that  is  Abraham/'  said  the  mas- 
ter, smiling  tenderly.  "  He  would  argue 
even  on  the  death  bed." 

"  But  a  cross  with  Tabari  would  remedy 
that  defect." 

"  Perhaps.     What  more?" 

"  He  blessed  you  and  bade  you  remem- 
ber, and  rejoice  that  he  was  gone  to  his 
wife  and  child." 

"Ah? "'cried  David  softly.  His  glance, 
wandering  absently,  rested  on  the  girl  for 
a  moment,  and  then  came  back  to  Elijah. 
"  His  mind  went  back  to  that?  What  fur- 
ther for  my  ear?" 

"  I  remember  nothing  more,  David." 

"  Speak!"  commanded  the  master. 

The  eyes  of  Elijah  roved  as  though  for 
help. 

"  Toward  the  end  his  voice  grew  faint 
and  his  mind  seemed  to  wander." 

"  Far  rather  tremble,  Elijah,  if  you  keep 
back  the  words  he  spoke,  however  sharp 
they  may  be.  My  hand  is  not  light.  Re- 
member, and  speak." 

The  fear  of  Elijah  changed  to  a  gloomy 
pride,  and  now  he  not  only  raised  his  head, 
but  he  even  made  a  step  forward  and  stood 
in  dignity. 

"  Death  took  Abraham  by  the  throat, 
and  yet  he  continued  to  speak.  '  Tell  David 
that  four  masters  cherished  Abraham,  but 
David  cast  him  out  like  a  dog  and  broke 
his  heart,  and  therefore  he  dies.  Although 
I  bless  him,  God  will  hereafter  judge  him! ' 

A  shudder  went  through  the  entire  group, 
and  Ruth  herself  was  uneasy. 

"  Keep  your  own  thoughts  and  the  words 
of  Abraham  well  divided,"  said  David  sel- 
emnly.  "  I  know  his  mind  and  its  work- 
ing. Continue,  but  be  warned." 

"  I  am  warned,  David,  but  my  brother 
Abraham  is  dead  and  my  heart  weeps  for 
him!" 

"  God  will  hereafter  judge  me,"  said 
David  harshly.  "  And  what  was  the  fur- 
ther judgment  of  Abraham,  the  old  man?" 

"  Even  this:  '  David  has  opened  the  Gar- 
den to  one  and  therefore  it  will  be  opened 
to  all.  The  law  is  broken.  The  first  sin 
is  the  hard  sin  and  the  others  follow  easily. 


It  is  swift  to  run  downhill.  He  has  brought 
in  one,  and  another  will  soon  follow.'  " 

"  Elijah,"  thundered  David,  "  you  have 
wrested  his  words  to  fit  the  thing  you  see." 

"  May  the  dead  hand  of  Abraham  strike 
me  down  if  these  were  not  his  words/' 

"  Had  he  become  a  prophet?"  muttered 
David.  "  No,  it  was  the  maundering  of  an 
old  man."  _ 

"  God  s'peafcs  on  the  lips  of  the  dying, 
David." 

"  You  have  said  enough." 

"Wait!" 

"  You  are  rash,  Elijah." 

She  could  not  see  the  face  of  David,  but 
the  terror  and  frenzied  devotion  of  Elijah 
served  her  as  a  mirror  to  see  the  wrath  of 
the  master  of  the  Garden. 

"  David  has  opened  the  gate  of  the  Gar- 
den. The  world  sweeps  in  and  shall  carry 
away  the  life  of  Eden  like  a  flood.  All  that 
four  masters  have  done  the  fifth  shall  undo." 

The  strength  of  his  ecstasy  slid  from 
Elijah  and  he  dropped  upon  his  knees  with 
his  head  weighted  toward  the  earth.  The 
other  negroes  were  frozen  in  their  places. 
One  who  had  opened  his  lips  to  speak,  per- 
haps to  intercede  for  the  rash  Elijah,  re- 
mained with  his  lips  parted,  a  staring  mask 
of  fear.  In  them  Ruth  saw  the  rage  of 
David  Eden,  and  she  was  sickened  by  what 
she  saw.  She  had  half  pitied  the  simplicity 
of  this  man,  this  gull  of  the  clever  Connor. 
Now  she  loathed  him  as  a  savage  barbarian. 
Even  these  old  men  were  hardly  safe  from 
his  furies  of  temper. 

"  Arise,"  said  the  master  at  length,  and 
she  could  feel  his  battle  to  control  his  voice. 
"  You  are  forgiven,  Elijah,  because  of  your 
courage — yet,  beware!  As  for  that  old  man 
whose  words  you  repeated,  I  shall  consider 
him."  He  turned  on  his  heel,  and  Ruth 
saw  that  his  face  was  iron. 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

THE  TOP  OF  THE  WORLD. 

FROM  the  gate  of  the  patio  Connor, 
watching  all  that  time  in  a  nightmare 
of  suspense,  saw,  first  of  all,  the  single 
figure  of  David   come   around   the   trees, 
David  alone  and  walking.    But  before  that 


THE    GARDEN   OF    EDEN. 


581 


shock  passed  he  saw  Glani  at  the  heels  of 
the  master,  and  then,  farther  bade,  Ruth! 

She  had  passed  the  gate  and  two-thirds 
of  the  battle  was  fought  and  won.  Yet  all 
was  not  well,  as  he  plainly  saw.  With  long, 
ift  steps  David  came  over  the  terrace, 
and  finally  paused  as  if  his  thoughts  had 
stopped  him.  He  turned  as  Glani  passed, 
and  the  girl  came  up  to  him;  his  extended 
ami  halted  Abra  and  he  stood  looking  up 
to  the  girl  and  speaking.  Only  the  faint 
murmur  of  his  voice  came  unintelligibly 
to  Connor,  but  he  recognized  danger  in 
it  as  clearly  as  in  the  hum  of  bees.  Sud- 
denly the  girl,  answering,  put  out  her  hands 
as  if  in  gesture  of  surrender.  Another  pause 
— it  was  only  a  matter  of  a  second  or  so, 
but  it  was  a  space  for  life  m  death  with 
Connor.  In  that  interval  he  knew  that  his 
scheme  was  made  or  mined.  What  had  the 
•_;irl  said?  Perhaps  that  mighty  extended 
arm  holding  back  Abra  had  frightened  her, 
and  with  the  wind  blowing  his  long  black 
hair  aside,  David  of  Eden  was  a  figure  wild 
enough  to  alarm  her.  Perhaps  m  fear  of 
her  life  she  had  exposed  the  whole  plan. 
If  so,  it  meant  broken  bones  for  Connor. 

But  now  David  turned  again,  and  this 
time  he  was  talking  by  the  side  of  Abra 
as  they  came  up  the  hill.  He  talked  with 
many  gestures,  and  the  girl  was  laughing 
down  to  him. 

"  God  bless  her!"  muttered  Connor  im- 
pulsive!; he's  a  true-blue  one!" 

He  remembered  his  part  in  the  nick  of 
time  as  they  came  closer,  and  David  helped 
the  girl  down  from  the  saddle  and  brought 
her  forward.  The  gambler  drew  himself 
up  and  made  his  face  grave  with  disap- 
proval. Now  or  never  he  must  prove  to 
David  that  there  was  no  shadow  of  a  con- 
nection between  him  and  the  girl.  Yet  he 
was  by  no  means  easy.  There  was  some- 
thing forced  and  stereotyped  in  the  smile 
of  the  girl  that  told  him  she  had  been 
through  a  crucial  test  and  was  still  near 
the  breaking  point. 

David  presented  them  to  one  another  tin- 
easily.  He'  was  even  a  little  embarrassed 
under  the  accusing  eye  of  Connor. 

•'•'  I  make  y«  known,  Ruth,"  he  said, 
"  to  my  brother  Benjamin.  He  is  that  man 
of  whom  I  told  you," 


''I  am  happy/'  said  the  girl,  "to 'be 
known  to  him." 

•"That  much  I  cannot  say/'  replied  the 
gambler. 

He  turned  upon  David  with  outstretched 
arm. 

"  Ah,  David,  I  have  warned  you:  " 

"  As  Abraham  warned  me  against  you, 
Benjamin.  And  dying  men  speak  truth." 

The  counter-attack  was  so  shrewd,  so 
unexpected,  that  the  gambler,  for  the  mo- 
ment, was  thrown  completely  off  his  guard. 

He  could  only  murmur:  "You  are  the 
judge  for  yourself,  David.' 

"I  am.  Da  not  think  that  the  power 
is  in  me.  But  God  loves  the  Garden  and 
His  voice  is  never  far  from  me.  Neither 
are  the  spirits  of  the  four  who  lived  here 
before  me  and  made  this  place.  When  there 
is  danger  they  warn  me.  When  I  am  in 
error  the  voice  of  God  corrects  me.  And 
just  as  I  heard  the  voice  against  the  wo- 
man, Ruth,  and  heed  it  not." 

He  seemed  to  have  gathered  conviction 
for  himself,  much  needed  conviction,  as  he 
spoke.  He  turned  now  towrard  the  girl. 

"  Be  not  wroth  with  Benjamin;  and  bear 
him  no  malice." 

"  I  bear  him  none  in  the  world,"  she  an- 
swered truthfully,  and  held  out  her  hand. 

But  Connor  was  still  in  his  rok.  He 
folded  his  arms  and  pointedly  disregarded 
the  advance. 

"  Woman,  let  there  be  peace  and  few 
words  between  us.  My  will  is  the  will  of 
David." 

"There  speaks  my  brother!"  cried  the 
master  of  the  valley. 

"  And  yet/1  muttered  Connor,  "  why  is 
she  here?" 

"  She  came  to  buy  a  horse." 

li  But  they  are  not  sold." 

"  That  is  true.  Yet  she  has  traveled  far 
and  she  is  in  great  need  of  food  and  drink. 
Could  I  turn  her  away  hungry^  Benjamin?" 

"  She  could  have  been  fed  at  the  gate. 
She  could  surely  have  rested  there." 

It  was  easy  to  see  that  David  was  hard- 
pressed.  His  eye  roved  eagerly  to  Ruth. 
Then  a  triumphant  explanation  sparkled  in 
his  eye. 

"  It  is  the  horse  she  rides,  a  gelding  from 
my  Garden.  His  lot  in  the  world  has  been 


582 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


hard.  He  is  scarred  with  the  spur  and 
the  whip.  I  have  determined  to  take  him 
back,  at  a  price.  But  who  can  arrange 
matters  of  buying  and  selling  all  in  a  mo- 
ment? It  is  a  matter  for  much  talk.  There- 
fore she  is  here." 

"  I  am  answered/'  said  Connor,  and  turn- 
ing to  Ruth  he  winked  broadly. 

"  It  is  well,"  said  David,  "  and  I  foresee 
happy  days.  In  the  meantime  there  is  a 
duty  before  me.  Abraham  must  be  laid  in 
his  grave  and  I  leave  Ruth  to  your  keeping, 
Benjamin.  Bear  with  her  tenderly  for  my 
sake." 

He  stepped  to  the  girl. 

"  You  are  not  afraid?" 

"  I  am  not  afraid,"  she  answered. 

"  My  thoughts  shall  be  near  you.  Fare- 
well." 

He  had  hardly  reached  the  gate  of  the 
patio  when  Joseph,  going  out  after  finish- 
ing his  labor  at  'the  fountain,  passed  be- 
tween the  gambler  and  the  girl.  Connor 
stopped  him  with  a  sign. 

"The  whip  hasn't  fallen,  you  see,"  he 
said  maliciously  to  the  negro. 

"  There  is  still  much  time,"  replied  Jo- 
seph. "  And  before  the  end  it  will  fall. 
Perhaps  on  you.  Or  on  that!" 

He  indicated  the  girl  with  his  pointing 
finger;  his  glance  turned  savagely  from  one 
to  the  other,  and  then  he  went  slowly  out 
of  the  patio  and  they  were  alone.  She  came 
to  Connor  at  once  and  even  touched  his  arm 
in  her  excitement. 

"  What  did  he  mean?" 

"  That's  the  one  I  told  you  about.  The 
one  David  beat  up  with  the  whip.  He'd 
give  his  eye  teeth  to  get  back  at  me,  and 
he  has  an  idea  that  there's  going  to  be  hell 
to  pay  because  another  person  has  come 
into  the  valley.  Bunk!  I  can  handle  a 
hundred  of  these  boobs,  black  and  white. 
But — what  happened  down  the  hill?" 

"  When  he  stopped  me?  Did  you  see 
that?" 

"  My  heart  stopped  the  same  minute. 
What  was  it?" 

"  He  had  just  heard  the  last  words  of 
Abraham.  When  he  stopped  me  on  the  hill 
his  face  was  terrible.  Like  a  wolf! " 

"  I  know  that  look  in  him!  How  did 
you  buck  up  under  it?" 


"  I  didn't.  I  felt  my  blood  turn  to  water 
and  I  wanted  to  run." 

"  But  you  stuck  it  out — I  saw!  Did  he 
say  anything?" 

"  He  said:  '  Dying  men  do  not  lie.'  And 
I  have  been  twice  warned.  Woman,  why 
are  you  here?" 

"  And  you?"  gasped  Connor.  "  What 
did  you  say?" 

"  Nothing.  My  head  spun.  I  looked  up 
the  terrace.  I  wanted  to  see  you,  but  you 
weren't  in  sight.  I  felt  terribly  alone  and 
absolutely  helpless.  If  I'd  had  a  gun  I 
would  have  reached  for  it." 

"Thank  God  you  didn't!" 

"  But  you  don't  know  what  his  face  was 
like!  I  expected  him  to  tear  me  off  the 
horse  and  smash  me  with  his  hands.  All  at 
once  I  wanted  to  tell  him  everything — beg 
him  not  to  hurt  me."  Connor  groaned. 

"  I  knew  it!  I  knew  that  was  in  your 
head!" 

"  But  I  didn't." 

"  Good  girl." 

"  He  said:  '  Why  are  you  here?  What 
harm  have  you  come  to  work  in  the  Gar- 
den?' " 

"  And  you  alone  with  him! "  gasped  Con- 
nor. 

"  That  was  what  did  it.  I  was  so  help- 
less that  it  made  me  bold.  Can  you  im- 
agine smiling  at  a  time  like  that?" 

"Were  you  able  to?" 

"  I  don't  know  how.  It  took  every 
ounce  of  strength  in  me.  But  I  made  my- 
self smile — straight  into  his  face.  Then 
I  put  out  my  hands  to  him  all  at  once. 

"  '  How  could  I  harm  you?'  I  asked  him. 

"  And  then  you  should  have  seen  his 
face  change  and  the  anger  break  up  like 
a  cloud.  I  knew  I  was  safe,  then,  but  I 
was  still  dizzy — just  as  if  I'd  looked  over 
a  cliff— you  know?" 

"  And  yet  you  rode  up  the  hill  after  that 
laughing  down  to  him!  Ruth,  you're  the 
gamest  sport  and  the  best  pal  in  the  world. 
The  finest  little  act  I  ever  saw  on  the 
stage  or  off.  It  was  Big  Time  stuff.  My 
hat's  off,  but — where 'd  you  get  the  nerve? 

"  I  was  frightened  almost  to  death.  Too 
much  frightened  for  it  to  sfcow.  When  I 
saw  you,  some  of  my  strength  came  back. 
But  what  do  you  think  of  him?" 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


583 


••  lies — simply  a  savage.     What  clo  I 
think  of  an  Indian?" 
Xo  more  than  that?'1 

"Ben,  can  you  pet  a  tiger  after  you've 
seen  his  claws?" 

He  looked  at  her  with  anxiety. 

"  You're  not  going  to  break  down  later 
on — feeling  as  if  he's  dynamite  about  to 
explode  all  the  time?" 

••I'm  going  to  play  the  game  through," 
she  said  with  a  sort  of  fierce  happiness. 
"  I've  felt  like  a  sneak  thief  about  this. 
But  now  it's  different.  He's  more  of  a  wolf 
than  a  man.  Ben,  I  saw  murder  in  his 
face,  I  swear!  And  if  it  isn't  wrong  to  tame 
wild  beasts  it  isn't  wrong  to  tame  him. 
I'm  going  to  play  the  game,  lead  him  as 
far  as  I  can  until  we  get  the  horses — and 
then  it  '11  be  easy  enough  to  make  up  by 
being  good  the  rest  of  my  life." 

"  Ruth— girl — you've  covered  the  whole 
ground.  And  when  you  have  the  coin — '•' 
He  broke  off  with  laughter  that  was  filled 
with  drunken  excitement.  '  But  what  did 
you  think  of  my  game?" 

She  did  not  hear  him,  and  standing  with 
her  hands  clasped  lightly  behind  her  she 
looked  beyond  the  roof  of  the  house  and 
over  the  tops  of  the  western  mountains, 
with  the  sun-haze  about  them. 

'•  I  feel  as  if  I  were  on  the  top  of  the 
world."  she  said  at  last.  "  And  I  wouldn't 
have  one  thing  changed.  We're  playing 
for  big  stakes,  but  we're  taking  a  chance 
that  makes  the  game  worth  while.  What 
we  win  we'll  earn — because  he's  a  devil. 
Isn't  it  what  you'd  call  a  fair  bet?" 

"  The  squarest  in  the  world,"  said  Con- 
nor stoutly. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

THE   FLOWER  OF   DAVID. 

THEY  had  no  means  of  knowing  when 
David  would  return  and  the  ominous 
shadow  of  Joseph,  lingering  near  the 
patio,  determined  Connor  on  a  walk  out  of 
any  possible  earshot.    They  went  down  to 
the  lake  with  the  singing  of  the  negroes  on 
the  other  side  of  the  hill  growing  dim  as 
they  descended.    The  cool  of  the  day  was 
beginning,  and  they  walked  close  to  the 


edge  of  the  water  with  the  brown  tree- 
trunks  on  one  side  and  the  green  images 
floating  beyond.  Peace  lay  over  Eden  val- 
ley and  the  bright  river  that  ran  through 
it,  but  Ben  Connor  had  no  mind  to  dwell 
on  unessentials. 

He  had  found  in  the  girl  an  ally  of  un- 
expected strength.  He  expected  only  a 
difficult  tool  filled  with  scruples,  drawing 
back,  imperiling  his  plans  with  her  hesita- 
tion. Instead,  she  was  on  fire  with  the 
plan.  He  though  well  to  fan  that  fire  and 
keep  it  steadily  blazing. 

"  It's  better  for  David;  better  for  i 
than  it  is  for  us.  Look  at  the  poor  sirnp! 
He's  in  prison  here  and  doesn't  know  it. 
He  thinks  he's  happy,  but  he's  simply  kid- 
ding himself.  Nothing  but  a  gang  of 
black-faces  around  him.  In  six  months  I'll 
have  him  chatting  with  millionaires." 

•'  Let  a  barber  do  a  day's  work  on  him 
first." 

"  Xo.  It's  just  the  long-haired  nuts 
like  that  who  get  by  with  the  high-step- 
pers. He  has  a  lingo  about  flowers  and 
trees  that'll  knock  their  eye  out.  I  know 
the  gang.  Always  on  edge  for  something 
different — music  that  sounds  like  a  riot  in 
a  junk  shop  and  poetry  that  reads  like  a 
drunken  printing-press.  Well.  David  ought 
to  be  different  enough  to  suit  'em.  I'll 
boost  him,  though:  v  The  Man  that 
Brought  Out  the  Eden  Grays!'  He'll  be 
headline  stuff!" 

He  laughed  so  heartily  that  he  did  not 
notice  the  quick  glance  ot  criticism  which 
the  girl  cast  at  him. 

"I'm  not  taking  anything  from  him, 
really,"  went  ,on  Connor.  "  I'm  simply 
sneaking  around  behind  him  so's  I  can 
pour  his  pockets  full  of  the  coin.  That's 
all  there  is  to  it.  Outside  of  the  looks,  tell 
me  if  there's  anything  crooked  you  can 
see?" 

''  I  don't  think  there  is,"  she  murmured. 
•  1  almost  hope  that  there  isn't!" 

She  was  so  dubious  about  it  that  Connor 
was  alarmed.  He  was  fond  of  Ruth  Man- 
ning, but  she  was  just  "  different  "  enough 
to  baffle  him.  Usually  he  divided  mankind 
into  three  or  four  categories  for  the  sake  of 
fast  thinking.  There  were  the  "  boobs  ", 
the  "  regular  guys  ",  the  "  high  steppers  "a 


584 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


and  the  "  nuts  ''.  Sometimes  he  came  per- 
ilously close  to  including  Ruth  in  the  last 
class — with  David  Eden.  And  if  he  did 
not  do  so,  it  was  mainly  because  she  had 
given  such  an  exhibition  of  cool  courage 
only  a  few  moments  before.  He  had  fin- 
ished his  peroration,  now,  with  a  feeling  of 
actual  virtue,  but  the  shadow  on  her  face 
made  him  change  his  tactics  and  his  talk. 

He  confined  himself,  thereafter,  strictly 
to  the  future.  First  he  outlined  his  plans 
for  raising  the  cash  for  the  big  "  killing  ". 
He  told  of  the  men  to  whom  he  could  go 
for  backing.  There  were  "  hard  guys  "  who 
would  take  a  chance.  "  Wise  ones  "  who 
would  back  his  judgment.  "  Fall  guys  " 
who  would  follow  him  blindly.  For  ten 
percent  he  would  get  all  the  cash  he  could 
place.  Then  it  remained  to  try  out  the 
grays  in  secret,  and  in  public  let  them  go 
through  the  paces,  ridden  under  wraps  and 
heavily  weighed.  He  described  the  means 
of  placing  the  big  money  before  the  great 
race. 

And  as  he  talked  his  figures  mounted 
from  tens  to  hundreds  to  thousands,  until 
he  was  speaking  in  millions.  In  all  of  this 
profit  she  and  David  and  Connor  would 
share  dollar  for  dollar.  At  the  first  corner 
of  the  shore  they  turned  she  had  arrived  at 
a  snug  apartment  in  New  York.  She  would 
have  a  house-keeper-companion,  some 
friendly  woman  whom  adverse  circum- 
stances had  placed  in  the  servant  class. 
There  would  be  a  cosy  living  room  and  a 
paneled  dining  room.  In  the  entrance  hall 
of  the  apartment  house,  imitation  of  en- 
crusted marble,  no  doubt. 

But  as  they  came  opposite  a  little  wood- 
ed island  in  the  lake  she  had  added  a  maid 
to  the  housekeeper.  Also,  there  was  now  a 
guest  room.  Some  one  from  Lukin  would 
be  in  that  room;  some  one  from  Lukin 
would  go  through  the  place  with  her,  mar- 
veling at  her  good  fortune. 

And  clothes!  They  made  all  the  differ- 
ence. Dressed  as  she  would  be  dressed, 
when  she  came  into  a  room  that  queer,  cold 
gleam  of  envy  would  be  in  the  eyes  of  the 
women  and  the  man  would  sit  straighter! 

Yet  when  they  reached  the  place  wheje 
the  shore  line  turned  north  and  west  her 
imagination,  spurred  by  Connor's  talk,  was 


stumbling  along  dizzy  heights.  Her  apart- 
ment occupied  a  whole  floor.  Her  butler 
was  a  miracle  of  dignity  and  her  chef  a 
genius  in  the  kitchen.  On  the  great  table 
the  silver  and  glass  were  things  of  frosted 
light.  Her  chauffeur  drove  a  monster  auto- 
mobile with  a  great  purring  engine  that 
whipped  her  about  the  city  with  the  color 
blown  into  her  cheeks.  In  her  box  at  the 
opera  she  was  allowing  the  deep,  soft  luxury 
of  the  fur  collar  to  slide  down  from  her 
throat,  while  along  the  boxes,  in  the  gal- 
leries, there  was  a  ripple  of  light  as  the 
thousand  glassses  turned  upon  her.  Then 
she  found  that  Connor  was  smiling  at  her. 
She  flushed,  but  snapped  her  fingers. 

"  This  thing  is  going  through,"  she  de- 
clared. 

"  You  won't  weaken?" 

"  I'm  as  cold  as  steel.  Let's  go  back. 
He'll  probably  be  in  the  house  by  this 
time." 

Time  had  slipped  past  her  unnoticed, 
and  the  lake  was  violet  and  gold  with  the 
sunset  as  they  turned  away;  under  the 
trees  along  the  terraces  the .  brilliant  wild 
flowers  were  dimmed  by  a  blue  shadow. 

"  But  I  never  saw  wild  flowers  like 
those,"  she  said  to  Connor. 

"  Nobody  else  ever  did.  But  old  Mat- 
thew, whoever  he  was,  grew  'em  and  kept 
crossing  'em  until  he  got  those  big  fellows 
with  all  the  colors  of  the  rainbow." 

"Hurry!     We're  late!" 

"  Xo,  David's  probably  on  top  of  that 
hill,  now;  always  goes  up  there  to  watch 
the  sun  rise  and  the  sun  set.  Can  you  beat 
that?" 

He  chuckled,  but  a  shade  had  darkened 
the  face  of  the  girl  for  a  moment.  Then 
she  lifted  her  head  resolutely. 

"I'm  not  going  to  try  to  understand 
him.  The  minute  you  understand  a  thing 
you  stop  being  afraid  of  it;  and  as  soon  as 
I  stop  being  afraid  of  David  Eden  I  might 
begin  to  like  him — which  is  what  I  don't 
want." 

"  What's  that?"  cried  Connor,  breaking 
in  on  her  last  words.  When  Ruth  began  to 
think  aloud  he  always  stopped  listening;  it 
was  a  maxim  of  his  to  never  listen  when  a 
woman  became  serious. 

"  It's  that  negro  with  the  ape-face." 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN.  585 

"Joseph!"    exclaimed    Connor    heavily,  dope,  eh?"  chuckled  Connor.     "You  trail 

"  Whipping  did  him  no  good.     He'll  need  me  to  find  out  what  I  inteno^  to  do?   Why 

killing  one  of  these  days."  don't  you  go  to  David  and  warn  him?" 

But  she  had  already  reverted  to  another  "  Have   I   forgotten   the   whip?''    asked 

thing.  Joseph,  his  nostrils  trembling  with  anger. 

"  Do  you  think  he  worships  the  sun?"  "  But  the  good  Haneemar  now  gives  me 

"  I  don't  think.     Try  to  figure  out  a  fel-  power  and  in  the  end  he  will  betray  you 

low  like  that  and  you  get  to  be  just  as  into  my  hands.     That  is  why  I  follow  you. 

much  of  a  nut'as  he  is.    Go  on  toward  the  Wherever  you  go  I  follow;  I  am  even  able 

house  and  I'll  follow  you  in  a  minute.     I  to  know  what  you  think!    But  hearken  to 

want  to  talk  to  big  Joe."  me,   Benjamin.     Take  back  the  head  of 

He  turned  aside  into  the  trees  briskly,  Haneemar  and  the  bad  luck  that  lives  in  it. 

and  the  moment  he  was  out  of  sight  of  the  Take  it  back,  and  I  shall  no  longer  follow 

girl  he  called  softly:  "Joseph!"  you.     I  shall  forget  the  whip.     I  shall  be 

He  repeated  the  call  after  a  trifling  wait  ready  to  do  you  a  service." 
before  he  saw  the  big  negro  coming  uncon-  He  extended  the  little  piece  of  ivory 
cernedly  through  the  trees  toward  him.  eagerly,  but  Connor  drew  back.  His  su- 
Joseph  came  close  before  he  stopped — very  perstitions  were  under  the  surface  of  his 
close,  as  a  man  will  do  when  he  wishes  to  mind,  but,  still,  they  were  there,  and  the 
make  another  aware  of  his  size,  and  from  fear  which  Joseph  showed  was  contagious, 
this  point  of  vantage,  he  looked  over  Con-  - "  Why  don't  you  throw  it  away  if  you're 
nor  from  head  to  foot  with  a  glance  of  afraid  of  it,  Joseph?" 
lingering  and  insolent  criticism.  The  "  You  know  as  I  know,"  returned  Jo- 
gambler  was  somewhat  amused  and  a  little  seph,  glowering,  "  that  it  cannot  be  thrown 
alarmed  by  that  attitude.  away.  It  must  be  given  and  freely  ac- 

"  Now,    Joseph,"    he    said,    "  tell    me  cepted,   as   I — oh   fool — accepted   it   from 

frankly  why  you're  dodging  me  about  the  you." 

valley.     Waiting   for   a   chance   to   throw  There  was  such  a  profound  conviction  in 

stones?"  this  that  Connor  was  affected  in  spite  of 

His  smile  remained  without  a  reflection  himself.     That  little  trinket  had  been  the 

on  the  stolid  face  of  the  servant.  entering    wedge    through    which    he    had 

"  Benjamin,"  answered  the  deep,  solemn  worked  his  way  into  the  Garden  and  started 

voice,  "  I  know  all ! "  on  the  road  to  fortune.     He  would  rather 

It  made  Connor  peer  into  those  broad,  have  cut  off  his  hand,  now,  than  take  it 

animal  features  as  into  a  dim  light.     Then  back. 

a  moment  of  reflection  assured  him  that  "  Find  some  one  else  to  take  it,"  he  sug- 

Joseph  could  not  have  learned  the  secret,  gested  cheerily.    "'I  don't  want  the  thing." 

"  Haneemar,    whom    you    know,"    con-  "  Then    all    that   Abraham    told    me    is 

tinued  Joseph,  "has  told  me  about  you."  true!"  muttered  Joseph,  closing  his  hand 

"  And  where,"  asked  Connor,  completely  over  the  trinket.    "  But. I  shall  follow  you, 

at  sea,  "  did  you  learn  of  Haneemar?"  Benjamin.    When  you  think  you  are  alone 

"  From  Abraham.    And  I  know  that  this  you  shall  find  me  by  turning  your  head, 

is  the  head  of  Haneemar.''  Every  day  by  sunrise  and  ever)'  day  by  the 

He  brought  out  in  his  palm  the  little  dark  I  beg  Haneemar  to  put  his  curse  on 

watch-charm  of  carved  ivory.  you.     I  have  done  you  no  wrong,  and  you 

"  Of  course,"  nodded  Connor,  feeling  his  have  had  me  shamed." 

way.    "  And  what  is  it  that  you  know  from  "  And  now  you're  going  to  have  me  be- 

Haneemar?"  witched,  eh?"  asked  Connor. 

•  That  you  are  evil,  Benjamin,  and  that  "  You  shall  see." 

you  have  come  here  for  evil.    You  entered  The   gambler   drew  back   another  pace 

by  a  trick;  and  you  will  stay  here  for  evil  and  through  the  shadows  he  saw  the  be- 

purposes  until  the  end."  ginning  of  a  smile  of  animal-cunning  on  the 

"  You  follow  around  to  pick  up  a  little  face  of  Joseph. 


586  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY  WEEKLY, 

"  The  devil  take  you  and  Haneemar  to-  murmur  of  bees  working  this  mine  of 
gether,"  he  growled.  "  Remember  this,  pollen.  From  above,  the  great  flowers 
Joseph.  I've  had  you  whipped  once.  The  hung  down  against  the  dull  red  o'f  the  sun- 
next  time  I'll  have  you  flayed  alive."  set  sky;  and  from  below  the  distant  tree- 
Instead  of  answering,  Joseph  merely  tops  on  the  terrace  pointed  up  with  glim- 
grinned  more  openly,  and  the  gambler,  to  mers  of  the  lake  between.  There  was  only 
forget  the  ape-face,  wheeled  and  hurried  the  reflected  light  of  the  evening,  now,  but 
out  from  the  trees.  The  touch  of  night-  the  cup  like  blossoms  were  filled  to  the 
mare  dread  did  not  leave  him  until  he  re-  brim  with  a  glow  of  their  own. 
joined  Ruth  on  the -higher  terrace.  She  looked  away. 

They  found  the  patio  glowing  with  light,  A  dapple  deer-skin  covered  the  bed  like 

the  table  near  the  fountain,  and  three  chairs  the  shadowT  under  a  tree  in  mid-day,  and 

around  it.    David  came  out  of  the  shadow  the   yellow   of   the   flowers   was   repeated 

of  the  arcade  to  meet  them,  and  he  was  dimly  on  the  floor  by  a  great,  tawny  hide 

as  uneasy  as  a  boy  who  has  a  surprise  for  of  a  mountain-lion.     She  took  up  some  of 

grown-ups.     He  had  not  even  time  for  a  the  purple  flowers,  and  letting  the  velvet 

greeting.  petals  trail  over  her  finger  tips,  she  turned 

"  You  have  not  seen  your  room?"  he  to  David  with  a  smile.    But  what  Connor 

said  to  Ruth.     "  I  have  made  it  ready  for  saw,  and  saw  with  a  thrill  of  alarm,  was 

you.     Come!"  that  her  eyes  were  filling  with  tears. 

He  led  the  way  half  a  pace  in  front,  "'See!"  said  David  gloomily.     "I  have 

glancing  back  at  them  as  though  to  reprove  done  this  to  make  you  happy,  and  now  you 

their  slowness,  until  he  reached  a  door  at  are  sad!" 

which  he  turned  and  faced  her,  laughing  "  Because  it  is  so  beautiful  ' 

with  excitement.    She  could  hardly  believe  "  Yes,"  said  David  slowly.     "  I  think  I 

that  this  man  with  his  childish  gayety  was  understand." 

the  same  whose  fury  had  terrified  the  ne-  But  Connor  took  one  of  the  flowers  from 

groes  that  same  afternoon.  her  hand.     She  cried  out,  but  too  late  to 

;;  Close  your  eye.s — close  them  fast.    You  keep   him    from    ripping    the    blossom    to 

will  not  look  until  I  say?"  pieces,  and  now  he  held  up  a  single  petal, 

She  obeyed,   setting  her  teeth  to  keep  long,  graceful!,  red-purple  at  the  broader 

from  smiling.  end  and  deep  yellow  at  the  narrow. 

••  Now  come  forward — step  high  for  the  -'  Think  of  that  a  million  times  bigger," 

doorway.     So!    You  are  in.     Now  wait —  said    Connor,   "  and  made  out  of  velvet, 

now  open  your  eyes  and  look!"  That'd  be  a  design  for  a  cloak,  eh?    Cost 

She  obeyed  again  and  saw  first  David  about   a   thousand  bucks   to   imitate   this 

landing  back  with  an  anxious  smile  and  petal,  but  it'd  be  worth  it  to  see  you  in  it, 

the  gesture  of  one  who  reveals,  but  is  not  eh?" 

quite  sure  of  its  effect.    Then  she  heard  a  She  looked  to  David  with  a  smile  of  apol- 

soft,  startled  exclamation  from  Connor  be-  ogy  for  Connor,  but  her  hand  accepted  the 

hind  her.    Last  of  all  she  saw  the  room.  petal,  and  her  second  smile  was  for  Connor 

It  was  as  if  the  walls  had  been  broken  himself, 
down  and  a  garden  let  inside — it  gave  an 
effect  of  open  air,  sunlight  and  wind.    Pur- 
ple flowers  like  warm  shadows  baked  the  CHAPTER  XXV. 
farther  corners,  and  out  of  them  rose  a  THE  WJND  op  DAVID 
great  vine  draping  the  window.     It  had 

been  torn  bodily  from  the  earth,  and  now  T  Y  /HEN  they  went  out  into  the  patio 

the  roots  were  packed  with  damp  moss,  ^^    again,  David  had  lost  a  large  part 

yellow-green.    It  bore  in  clusters  and  single  of    his    bouyancy    of    spirits,    as 

flowers  and  abundant  bloom,  each  blossom  though  in  some  subtle  manner  Connor  had 

as  large  as  the  mallow,  and  a  dark  gold  so  overcast  the  triumph  of  the  room;  he  left 

rich  that  Ruth  well-nigh  listened  for  the  them   with   word   that  the   evening   meal 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEX. 


587 


would  soon  be  ready  and  hurried  off  calling 
orders  to  Zacharias. 

••  Why  did  you  do  it?"  she  asked  Connor 
as  soon  as  they  were  alone. 

"  Because  it  made  me  mad  to  see  a  star- 
gazer  like  that  turning  your  head." 

"  But  didn't  you  think  the  room  was 
beautiful?" 

"  Sure.  Like  a  riot  in  a  florist's  shop. 
But  don't  let  this  David  take  you  off  guard 
with  his  rooms  full  of  flowers  and  full  of 
silence." 

•  Silence?" 

"  Haven't  I  told  you  about  his  Room  of 
Silence?  That's  one  of  his  queer  dodges. 
That  room;  you  see?  When  anything  both- 
ers him  he  goes  over  and  sits  down  in  there, 
because — do  you  know  what  he  thinks  sits 
with  him?" 

"Well?" 

"God!" 

She  was  between  a  smile  and  a  gasp. 

"  Yep,  that's  David,"  grinned  Connor. 
"  Just  plain  nut." 

"  What's  inside?" 

"I  don't  know.     Maybe  flowers." 

"  Let's  find  out." 

He  caught  her  arm  quickly. 

"  Not  in  a  thousand  years! "  He  changed 
color  at  the  thought  and  glanced  guiltily 
around.  "  That  would  be  the  smash  of 
everything.  Why,  he  turned  over  the 
whole  Garden  of  Eden  to  me.  I  can  go 
anywhere,  but  not  a  step  inside  that  room. 
It's  his  Holy  Ground,  you  see!  Maybe  it's 
where  he  keeps  his  jack.  And  I've  a  hunch 
that  he  has  a  slough  of  it  tucked  away 
somewhere." 

She  raised  her  hand  as  an  idea  came  to 
her  half  way  through  this  speech. 

"  Listen !  I  have  an  idea  that  the  clew 
to  all  of  David's  mystery  is  in  that  room!" 

"  Drop  that  idea,  Ruth,"  he  ordered 
gruffly.  "  You've  seen  David  on  one  ram- 
page, but  it's  nothing  to  what  would  hap- 
pen if  you  so  much  as  peeked  into  that 
place.  When  the  negroes  pass  that  door 
they  take  off  their  hats — watch  'em  the 
next  time  you  have  a  chance.  You  won't 
make  a  slip  about  that  room?" 

•  \o."     But  she  added:   "  I'd  give  my 
soul — for  one  look!" 

Dinner  that  night  under  the  stars  with 


the  whispering  of  the  fountain  beside  them 
was  a  ceremony  which  Connor  never  for- 
got. The  moon  rose  late  and  in  the  mean- 
time the  sky  was  heavy  and  dark  with 
sheeted  patchwork  of  clouds,  with  the  stars 
showing  here  and  there.  The  wind  blew  in 
gusts.  A  wave  began  with  a  whisper  on 
the  hill,  came  with  a  light  rushing  acrosss 
the  patio,  and  then  diminished  quickly 
among  the  trees  down  the  terraces.  JRough, 
iron-framed  lanterns  gave  the  light  and 
showed  the  arcade  stepping  away  on  either 
side  and  growing  dim  toward  the  entrance. 
That  uncertain  illumination  made  the  crude 
pillars  seem  to  have  only  the  irregularity  of 
vast  antiquity,  stable  masses  of  stone. 
Where  the  circle  of  lantern-light  overlapped 
rose  the  fountain,  a  pale  spray  forever  dis- 
solving in  the  upper  shadow.  Connor  him- 
self was  more  or  less  used  to  these  things, 
but  he  became  newly  aware  of  them  as  the 
girl  sent  quick,  eager  glances  here  and  there. 

She  had  placed  a  single  one  of  the  great 
yellow  blossoms  in  her  hair  and  it  changed 
her  shrewdly.  It  brought  out  the  delicate 
coloring  of  her  skin,  and  to  the  darkness  of 
her  eyes  it  lent  a  tint  of  violet.  Plainly 
she  enjoyed  the  scene  with  its  newness. 
David,  of  course,  was  the  spice  to  every- 
thing, and  his  capitulation  was  complete; 
he  kept  the  girl  always  on  an  uneasy  bal- 
ance between  happiness  and  laughter.  And 
Connor  trembled  for  fear  the  mirth  would 
show  through.  But  each  change  of  her  ex- 
pression appeared  to  delight  David  more 
than  the  last. 

Under  his  deft  knife  the  choicest  white 
meat  came  away  from  the  breast  of  a 
chicken  and  he  heaped  it  at  once  on  the 
plate  of  Ruth.  Then  he  dropped  his  chin 
upon  his  great  brown  fist  and  watched  with 
silent  delight  while  she  ate.  It  embar- 
rassed her;  but  her  flush  had  a  tinge  of 
pleasure  in  it,  as  Connor  very  well  knew. 

"Look!"  said  David,  speaking  softly  as 
though  Ruth  would  not  hear  him.  "  How 
pleasant  it  is,  to  be  three  together.  When 
we  were  two,  one  talked  and  the  other 
grew  weary — was  it  not  so?  But  now  we 
are  complete.  One  speaks,  one  listens,  and 
the  other  judges.  I  have  been  alone.  The 
Garden  of  Eden  has  been  to  me  a  prison,  at 
many  times.  And  now  there  is  nothing 


588  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY  WEEKLY, 

wanting.     And  why?    There  were  many        "Plain  nut!"  said  Connor,  framing  the 

men  before.    We  were  not  lacking  in  num-  words  with  silent  lips. 

bers.    Yet  there  was  an  emptiness,  and  now        But  though  her  eyes  rested  on  him,  ap- 

comes  one  small  creature,  as  delicate  as  a  parently  she  did  not  see  his  face.     She 

colt  of  three  months,  this  being  of  smiles  looked  back  at  Connor  with  a  wistful  little 

and  curious  glances,  this,  small  voice,  this  half-smile. 

woman — and  at  once  the  gap  is  filled.    Is  it        At  once  David  cast  out  both  his  hands 

not  strange?"  toward  hers. 

He  cast  himself  back  in  his  chair,  as        "Ah,  you  are  strange,  new,  delightful!" 

though  he  wished  to  throw  her  into  per-  He   stopped    abruptly.     Then:    '-'Does   it 

spective  with  her  surroundings,  and  all  the  make  you  happy-  to  hear  me   say   these 

time  he  was  staring  as  though  she  were  an  things?" 

image,  a  picture,  and  not  a  thing  of  flesh        "  Why  do  you  ask  me  that?"  she  said 

and  blood.     Connor  himself  was  on  the  curiously. 

verge  of  a  smile,  but  when  he  saw  the  face        "  Because  it  fills  me  with  unspeakable 

of  Ruth  Manning  his  mirth  disappeared  in  happiness  to  say  them.    If  I  am  silent  and 

a  chill  of  terror.     She  was  struggling  and  only   think    then    I   am   not   so   pleased. 

struggling  in  vain  against  a  rising  tide  of  When  I  see  Glani  standing  on  the  hill-top 

laughter,   laughter   in   the   face  of   David  I  feel  his  speed  in  the  slope  of  his  muscles, 

Eden  and  his  sensitive  pride.  the  flaunt  of  his  tail,  the  pride  of  his  head; 

It  came,  it  broke  through  all  bonds,  and  but  when  I  gallop  him,  and  the  wind  of  his 

now  it  was  bubbling  from  her  lips.    As  one  galloping  strikes  my   face — ha,  that  is  a 

who  awaits  the  falling  of  a  blow,  Connor  joy!    So  it  is  speaking  with  you.    When  I 

glanced  furtively  at  the  host,  and  again  he  see  you  I  say  within:   i  She  is  beautiful!' 

was  startled.  But  when  I  speak  it  aloud  your  lips  tremble 

There  was  not  a  shade  of  evil  temper  in  a  little  toward  a  smile,  your  eyes  darken 

the  face  of  David.    He  leaned  forward,  in-  with  pleasure,  and  then  my  heart  rises  into 

deed,  with  a  surge  of  the  great  shoulders,  my  throat  and  I  wish  to  speak  again  and 

but  it  was  as  one  who  listens  to  an  entranc-  again  and  again  to  find  new  things  to  say, 

ing  music.     And  when  she  ceased,  abrupt-  to  say  old  things  in  new  words.    So  that  I 

ly,  he  sighed.  may  watch  the  changes  in  your  face.    Do 

"  Speak  to  me,"  he  commanded.  you  understand?    But  now  you  blush.    Is 

She  murmured  a  faint  reply.  that  a  sign  of  anger?" 

"  Again,"  said  David,  half  closing  his        "  It  is  a  sign  that  no  other  men  have 

eyes.     And  Connor  nodded  a  frantic  en-  ever  talked  to  me  in  this  manner." 

couragement  to  her.  "  Then  other  men  are  fools.     What  I 

"  But  what  shall  I  say?"  say  is  true.    I  feel  it  ring  in  me,  that  it  is 

"  For  the  meaning  of  what  you  say,"  the  truth.    Benjamin,  my  brother,  is  it  not 

said  David,  "  I  have  no  care,  but  only  for  so?  Ha!" 

the  sound.    Have  you  heard  dripping  in  a        She  was  raising  the  wine-cup;  he  checked 

well,  a  sound  like  water  filling  a  bottle  and  her  with  his  eager,  extended  hand, 
never  reaching  the  top?    It  keeps  you  lis-        "  See,    Benjamin,    how   this   mysterious 

tening  for  an  hour,  perhaps,  always  a  soft  thing  is  done,  this  raising  of  the  hand.    We 

sound,  but  always  rising  toward  a  climax?  raise  the  cup  to  drink.    An  ugly  thing — let 

Or  a  drowsy  day  when  the  wind  hardly  it  be  done  and  forgotten.     But  when  she 

moves  and  the  whistling  of  a  bird  comes  lifts  the  cup  it  is  a  thing  to  be  remembered ; 

now  and  then  out  of  the  trees,  cool  and  how  her  fingers  curve  and  the  weight  of 

contented?  Or  you  pass  a  meadow  of  flow-  the  cup  presses  into  them,  and  how  her 

ers  in  the  warm  sun  and  hear  the  ground  wrist  droops." 

murmur  of  the  bees,  and  you  think  at  once.        She  lowered  the  cup  hastily  and  put  her 

of  the  wax  films  of  the  honeycomb,  and  hand  before  her  face, 
the  clear  golden  honey?    All  those  things        "  I  see,"  said  Connor  dryly. 
I  heard  and  saw  when  you  spoke,"  J%  Pah!."  cried  the  master  of  the  Garden. 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN. 


589 


"  You  do  not  see.    But  you,  Ruth,  are  you 
angry?    Are  you  shamed?" 

He  drew  down  her  hands,  frowning  with 
intense  anxiety.  Her  face*  was  crimson. 

"  No,"  she  said  faintly. 

"  He  says  that  he  sees,  but  he  does  not 
see,"  went  on  David.  "  He  is  blind,  this 
Benjamin  of  mine.  I  show  him  my  noblest 
grove  of  the  eucalyptus  trees,  each  tree  as 
tall  as  a  hill,  as  proud  as  a  king,  as  beauti- 
ful as  a  thought  that  springs  up  from  the 
earth.  I  show  him  these  glorious  trees. 
What  does  he  say?  '  You  could  build  a 
whole  town  out  of  that  wood!'  Bah!  Is 
that  seeing?  No,  he  is  blind!  Such  a  man 
would  give  you  hard  work  to  do.  But  I 
say  to  you,  Ruth,  that  to  be  beautiful  is  to 
be  wise,  and  industrious,  and  good.  Surely 
you  are  to  me  like  the  rising  of  the  sun— 
my  heart  leaps  up!  And  you  are  like  the 
coming  of  the  night  making  the  \vorld  beau- 
tiful and  mysterious.  For  behind  your  eyes 
and  behind  your  words,  out  of  the  sound 
of  your  voice  and  your  glances,  I  guess  at 
new  things,  strange  things,  hidden  things. 
Treasures  which  cannot  be  held  in  the 
hands.  Should  you  grow  as  old  as  Elijah, 
withered,  meager  as  a  grasshopper,  the 
treasures  would  still  be  there.  I,  who  have 
seen  them,  can  never  forget  them!" 

Once  more  she  covered  her  eyes  with  her 
hand,  and  David  started  up  from  his  chair. 

"  What  have  I  done?"  he  asked  faintly 
of  Connor.  He  hurried  around  the  table  to 
her.  "  Look  up!  How  have  I  harmed 
you?1' 

"  I  am  only  tired,"  she  said. 

"I  am  a  fool!  I  should  have  known. 
Come!"  said  David. 

He  drew  her  from  the  chair  and  led  her 
across  the  lawn,  supporting  her.  At  her 
door:  "  May  sleep  be  to  you  like  the  sound 
of  running  water,"  murmured  David. 

And  when  the  door  was  closed  he  went 
hastily  back  to  Connor. 


CHAPTER  XXVI. 

POLITICS. 


have  I  done?   W11^  have  * 
done?"  he  kept  moaning.     "  She 

is  in  pain.    I  have  hurt  her." 
"  Sit  down,"  said  Connor,  deeply  amusedj 


It  had  been  a  curious  revelation  to  him, 
this  open  talk  of  a  man  who  was  falling  in 
love.  He  remembered  the  way  he  had  pro- 
posed to  a  girl,  once:  "  Say,  Betty,  don't 
you  think  you  and  me  would  hit  it  off 
pretty  well,  speaking  permanently?" 

This  flaunting  language  was  wholly  ludi- 
crous to  Connor.  It  was  book-stuff. 

David  had  obeyed  him  with  childlike  do- 
cility, and  sat  now  like  a  pupil  about  to  be 
corrected  by  the  master. 

"  That  point  is  this,"  explained  Connor 
gravely.  "  You  have  the  wrong  idea.  As 
far  as  I  can  make  out,  you  like  Ruth?" 

"  It  is  a  weak  word.  Bah!  It  is  not 
enough." 

"  But  it's  enough  to  tell  her.  You  see, 
men  outside  of  the  Garden  don't  talk  to  a 
girl  the  way  you  do,  and  it  embarrasses  her 
to  have  you  talk  about  her  all  the  time." 

"  Is  it  true?"  murmured  the  penitent 
David,  "  Then  what  should  I  have  said?1' 

"  Well — er — you  might  have  said — that 
the  flower  went  pretty  well  in  her  hair,  and 
let  it  go  at  that." 

"  But  it  was  more,  more,  more!  Benja- 
min, my  brother,  these  hands  of  mine 
picked  that  very  flower.  And  I  see  that  it 
has  pleased  her.  She  had  taken  it  up  and 
placed  it  in  her  hair.  It  changes  her.  My 
flower  brings  her  close  to  me.  It  means 
that  we  have  found  a  thing  which  pleases 
us  both.  Just  as  you  and  I,  Benjamin,  are 
drawn  together  by  the  love  of  one  horse. 
So  that  flower  in  her  hair  is  a  great  sign. 
I  dwell  upon  it.  It  is  like  a  golden  moon 
rising  in  a  black  night.  It  lights  my  way  to 
her.  Words  rush  up  from  my  heart,  but 
cannot  express  what  I  mean!" 

"Let  it  go!  Let  it  go!"  said  Connor 
hastily,  brushing  his  way  through  this  out- 
flow of  verbiage,  like  a  man  bothered  with 
gnats.  "  I  gather  what  you  mean.  But 
the  point  is  that  about  nine-tenths  of  what 
you  think  you'd  better  not  say.  If  you 
want  to  talk — well,  talk  about  yourself. 
That's  what  I  most  generally  do  with  a 
girl.  They  like  to  hear  a  man  say  what 
he's  done." 

"Myself!"  said  David  heavily.  "Talk 
of  a  dead  stump  when  there  is  a  great  tree 
beside  it?  Well,  I  see  that  I  have  much  to 
learn." 


590 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


"'  You  certainly  have,"  said  Connor  with 
much  meaning.  ''I'd  hate  to  turn  you 
loose  in  Manhattan." 

"  In  what?" 

"  Never  mind.  But  here's  another  thing. 
You  know  that  she'll  have  to  leave  pretty 
soon?" 

The  meaning  slowly  filtered  into  David's 
mind. 

"  Benjamin,"  he  said  slowly,  ';  you  are 
wise  in  many  ways,  with  horses  and  with 
women,  it  seems.  But  that  is  a  fool's  talk. 

r  * 

Let  me  hear  no  more  of  it.  Leave  me? 
Why  should  she  leave  me?" 

Triumph  warmed  the  heart  of  Connor. 

"  Because  a  girl  can't  ramble  off  into  the 
mountains  and  put  up  in  a  valley  where 
there  are  nothing  but  men.  It  isn't  done." 

"  Why  not?" 

"  Isn't  good  form." 

"I  fail  to  understand." 

"  My  dear  fellow,  she'd  be  compromised 
for  life  if  it  were  known  that  she  had  lived 
here  with  us.'' 

David  shook  his  head  blankly. 

"  In  one  word,"  said  Connor,  striving  to 
make  his  point,  rf  she'd  be  pointed  out  by 
other  women  and  by  men.  They'd  never 
have  anything  to  do  with  her.  They'd  say 
things  that  would  make  her  ashamed,  hurt 
her,  you  know.'' 

Understanding  and  wrath  gathered  in 
David's  face. 

"  To  such  a  man — to  such  a  dog  of  a 
man — I  would  talk  with  my  hands!" 

"  I  think  you  would,"  nodded  Connor, 
not  a  little  impressed.  "  But  you  might 
not  be  around  to  hear  the  talk." 

"  But  women  surely  live  with  men. 
There  are  wives — " 

"Ah!    Man  and  wife — all  very  well!" 

u  Then  it  is  simple.  I  marry  her  and 
then  I  keep  her  here  forever." 

"  Perhaps.    But  will  she  marry  you?" 

"  Why  not?" 

"  Well,  does  she  love  you?" 

"  True."    He  stood  up.    "  I'll  ask  her." 

"  For  Heaven's  sake,  no!  Sit  down! 
You  mustn't  rush  at  a  woman  like  this  the 
first  day  you  know  her.  Give  her  time. 
Let  me  tell  you  when!" 

"  Benjamin,  my  dear  brother,  you  are 
wise  and  I  am  a  fool!" 


"  You'll  do  in  time.  Let  me  coach  you, 
that's  all,  and  you'll  come  on  famously.  I 
can  tell  you  this:  that  I  think  she  likes  you 
very  well  already." 

"  Your  words  are  like  a  shower  of  light, 
a  fragrant  wind.  Benjamin,  I  am  hot  with 
happiness!  When  may  I  speak  to  her?" 

"  I  don't  know.  She  may  have  guessed 
something  out  of  what  you  said  to-night." 
He  swallowed  a  smile.  "  You  might  speak 
to  her  about  this  marriage  to-morrow." 

"  It  will  be  hard;  but  I  shall  wait." 

"'And  then  you'll  have  to  go  out  of  the 
Garden  with  her  to  get  married." 

"Out  of  the  Garden?  Never!  Why 
should  we?" 

"  Why.  you'll  need  a  minister,  you  know, 
to  marry  you." 

"  True.    Than  I  shall  send  for  one." 

"  But  he  might  not  want  to  make  this 
long  journey  for  the  sake  of  one  marriage 
ceremony." 

"  There  are  ways,  perhaps,  of  persuading 
him  to  come/'  said  David,  making  a  grim 
gesture. 

No  force  or  you  ruin  everything." 

"  I  shall  be  ruled  by  you,  brother.  It 
seems  I  have  little  knowledge." 

"  Go  easy  always  and  you'll  come  out  all 
right.  Give  her  plenty  of  time.  A  woman 
always  needs  a  lot  of  time  to  make  up  her 
mind,  and  even  then  she's  generally  wrong." 

"What  do  you  mean  by  that?" 

"  No  matter.  She'll  probably  want  to 
go  back  to  her  home  for  a  while." 

"  Leave  me?" 

"  Not  necessarily.  But  you,  when  a  man 
gets  engaged,  it's  sometimes  a  couple  of 
years  between  the  time  a  woman  promises 
to  marry  him  and  the  day  of  the  ceremony." 

"  Do  they  wait  so  long,  and  live  apart?" 

"  A  thousand  miles,  maybe." 

''.Then  you  men  beyond  the  mountains 
are  made  of  iron!" 

"  Do  you  have  to  be  away  from  her? 
Why  not  go  along  with  her  when  she  goes 
home?" 

"  Surely,  Benjamin,  you  know  that  a  law 
forbids  it!" 

"  You  make  your  own  laws  in  important 
things  like  this." 

"  It  cannot  be." 

And  so  the  matter  rested  when  Connor 


FOR    BETTER    OR    FAR    WORSE, 


591 


left  his  host  and  went  to  bed.    He  had  been  that  single  half-day.     The  ability  to  rise  to 

careful  not  to  press  the  point.    So  unbeliev-  a  great  situation  was  something  which  he 

ably  much  ground  had  been  covered  in  the  admired  above  all  things  in  man  or  woman, 

first  few  hours  that  he  was  dizzy  with  sue-  It  was  his  own  peculiar  power — to  judge  a 

cess.     It  seemed  ages  since  that  Ruth  had  man  or  a  horse  in  a  glance,  and  dare  to 

come  running  to  him  in  the  patio  in  terror  venture  a  fortune  on  chance.     Indeed,  it 

of  her  life.     From  that  moment  how  much  was  hardly  a  wonder  that  David  Eden  or 

had  been  done!                            .  any  other  man  should  have  fallen  in  love 

Closing  his  eyes  as  he  lay  on  his  bed,  he  with  her  in  that  one  half-day.     She  was 

went  back  over  each  incident  to  see  if  a  changed  beyond  recognition  from  the  pale 

false  step  had  been  made.     As  far  as  he  girl  who  sat  at  the  telegraph  key  in  Lukin 

could  see,  there  had  not  been  a  single  un-  and  listened  to  the  babble  of  the  world, 

sound    measure     undertaken.       The    first  Xow  she  was  out  in  that  wrorld,  acting  on 

stroke  had  been  the  masterpiece.    Out  of  a  the  stage  and  proving  herself  worthy  of  a 

danger   which   had   threatened  instant  de-  role. 

struction  of  their  plan  she  had  won  com-  He  rehearsed  her  acts.  And  finally  he 
plete  victory  by  her  facing  of  David,  and  found  himself  flushing  hotly  at  the  memory 
when  she  put  her  hand  in  his  as  a  sign  of  of  her  mingled  pleasure  and  shame  and  em- 
weakness,  Connor  could  see  that  she  had  barrassment  as  David  of  Eden  had  poured 
made  David  her  slave.  out  his  amazing  flow  of  compliments. 

Vs  the  scene  came  back  vividly  before  At  this  point  Connor  sat  up  suddenly 

his  eyes  he  could  not  resist  an  impulse  to  and  violently  in  his  bed. 

murmur  aloud  to  the  dark:  ';  Brave  girl!"  'c  Stead}',   Ben!''   he   cautioned   himself,! 

She  had  grown  upon  him  marvelously  in  "  \Yatch  your  step!1' 

(To  be  continued  NEXT  WEEK.) 


NO  doubt  marriage  is  a  grand  and  glori- 
ous institution.     But  there's  times 
when — well,  right  now,  for  example. 
If  I  had  my  way  about  it,  I'd  tell  the  world 
that  a  certain  Miss  Dorothy  Kent  sure  was 
one  girl  in  a  thousand!     Owing,  however, 
to  circumstances  over  which  I  have  little  or 
no  control,  I — well,  anyway,  she  wTas  two 
girls  in  a  thousand,  the  other,  of  course,  as 


you  may  of  guessed,  being  no  less  than  my 
beautiful  and  accomplished  wife. 

And  now.  having  got  round  that  little 
difficulty  in  a  manner  which  ought  to  give 
the  diplomatic  squad  in  Washington  some 
trouble  in  laughing  off — why,  maybe  you'd 
like  to  hear  how  come  that  highly  flatter- 
ing opinion  of  mine  with  respect  to  the 
lovely  and  likewise  clever  Miss  Kent. 


592  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 

Well,  the  beginning  was  no  doubt  when  WTalter  McKettrick  by  name,  who  tapped  a 

a  husky  young  gent  with  a  genial  smile  wicked  typewriter  in  the  sport  department 

and  a  tin  ear,  and  who  does  his  stuff  under  of  one  of  our  leading  dailies.    Well,  prob- 

the  nom  de  plume  of  Jack  Casey,  gets  him-  ably  Walter  won't  ever  burn  up  the  old 

self  elected  president  of  the  heavyweight  planet.    But  you  got  to  hand  it  to  him  for 

box-fighters  of  Dry  Country,  Tis  of  Thee  one  thing,  anyway:  he  sure  is  right  up  and 

by  the  overwhelming  majority  of  one  thou-  coming  all  the  time. 

sand  two  hundred  and  forty-four  hearty  What  you  might  call  a  self-sufficient  kind 

socks  over  the  opposing  candidate,  who,  of  guy,  Walter  is,  and  never  at  a  loss  for  an 

after  caroming  off  a  hospital,  fades  out  of  idea,  if  you  know  what  I  mean.    Why,  Wal- 

the  picture  in  the  general  direction  of  that  ter  would  no  more  hesitate  about  telling 

bourn  from  which,  as  the  poet  says,  no  Mr.  Will  Hays,  for  example,  how  to  stage 

champ  returneth.   'They  never  come  back,  a   Presidential    campaign    than   he   would 

Now  if,  in  turn,  Mr.  Casey  had  only  of  about  telling  Mr.   George   M.   Cohan  all 

had  the  politeness  or  something  to  in  due  about  how  to  put  on  a  musical  show.    And 

time  permit  somebody  to  pop  him  on  the  I  wouldn't  be  surprised  if  Will  and  George 

chin,  followed  by  Mr.  Casey  touring  the  might  learn  something  to  their  advantage, 

twilight  circuit  for  an  engagement  of  ten  at  that. 

seconds,  why  no  doubt  it  would  of  personal-  I  might  say,  however,  that  I've  got  some 

ly  saved  me  the  pleasure  of  passing  through  personal  reasons  for  thinking  that  some  of 

what  the  French  or  some  of  the  other  Allies  Walter's  stuff  ain't  no  good.    No,  sir;  not 

calls  one  very  bad  quarter  of  an  hour—  so  good! 

though,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  it  didn't  last  Anyway,  I  met  up  with  Walter;  and,  hav- 

that  long.  ing  settled  several  matters  of  international 

But  nothing  like  that.     Instead,  at  the  importance  and  which  had  Parliament,  the 

end  of  something  like  several  years,  Mr.  Senate,  Congress,  and  W.  J.  Bryan  hanging 

Casey  was  still  clinging  to  his  much-prized  on  the  ropes,  Walter  finally  gets  round  to 

title    like    what's-his-name,    Horatius,    the  the  topic  of  how  the  heavyweight  division 

great  bridge  champion,  once  holds  thirteen  still  seems  to  be  drifting  in  what  Mr.  Mc- 

trumps  or  something.    And  a  situation  had  Kettrick  calls  the  well-known  doldrums, 

come  up  which  was  a  good  deal  like  the  one  "Doldrums  is  right,"  I  says.     *'  What- 

\vhen  the  great  \Vhite  Hope  hunt  was  on,  ever  they  are.    Say,  I  only  wish  I  had  one 

and  which,  as  you  very  likely  remember,  re-  of  them  handy  little  household  articles  such 

suited  in  the  reluctant  Mr.  Jeffries  coming  as  who's  this,  Aladdin,  had." 

out  of  his  retirement,  and  the  unconscious  "  How  do  you  mean?"  asks  Walter. 

Mr.  Jeffries  going  back  to  it.  "  Why,"  I  says,  "  after  applying  the  nec- 

In  a  word,  Mr.  Casey  having  knocked  essary  amount  of  friction,  I'd  wish  me  some 

all  comers,  as  they're  known  to  the  trade,  bird  that  could  hand  Mr.  Jack  Casey  one 

for  the  conventional  row  of  shanties — why,  very  proper  pasting!" 

that's  all  there  was,  there  wasn't  any  more.  "  Well,"  says  W7alter,  "  if  you  want  to 

There  was  nobody  left  in  sight  that  had  a  get  a  man  capable  of  defeating  the  cham- 

Chinaman's  chance  with  the  title-holder.  pion,  why  don't  you  get  one?" 

And  I  probably  don't  have  to  say  that  "Just   like   that,   eh?"    I   comes   back, 

this  was  a  state  of  affairs  which  was  highly  "  Say,  why  don't  I  get  a  million  bucks  or 

unsatisfactory  to  all  concerned — including  something?    How  d'ye  mean,  get  one?" 

Mr.  Casey,  who  was  forced  to  struggle  along  "  What  do  people  generally  do  when  they 

as  best  he  could  on  the  measly  two  thousand  want  something  they  haven't  got?"  counters 

'dollars  per  week,  or  thereabouts,  which  he  W7alter. 

'dragged  down  for  working,  so  to  say,  an  '  Why,"  I  says,  "  just  now  the  simple 

hour  or  so  a  day  on  the  vaudeville  circuits,  but  efficient  blackjack  seems  to  be  mostly 

the  movie  lots,  and  the  like.  in  favor  in  our  best  criminal  circles.    You 

So  that  was  the  way  things  was  when  see— 

one  day  I  met  up  with  a  friend  of  mine,  Looked  like  my  stuff  didn't  go  so  big 

7  A 


MR.    BARKER    AND    PROMOTION. 


749 


••  Why,  you  sent  for  me,  Mr.  Spooner, 
so  I—" 

"  I  sent  for  you?  Why,  I  never  even 
knew  that  you  were  on  this  earth  before. 
Don't  take  that  to  heart  now.  Ours  is  a 
pretty  big  organization,  and  of  course  I 
can't  know  everybody.  When  and  how  did 
I  send  for  you,  as  you  say?" 

"  This  afternoon,  sir.  I  found  a  note 
on  my  desk  saying  that  you  wanted  to  see 
me,  so  I  came." 

'  "  A  note?  I  see;  and  your  name  is  Bar- 
ker? I  see,  I  see.  It  was  quite  a  mistake, 
but  not  an  unfortunate  one,  not  in  the 
least,  I  can  assure  you."  He  paused 
thoughtfully,  and  Mr.  Barker,  everything 
a  dismal  gray  about  him,  hope  and  every- 
thing else  crushed,  wraited  for  a  chance  to 
escape. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  with  us,  Mr. 
Barker?"  the  boss  asked  in  kindly  tones. 

"  Two  years,  sir — two  years  to-day," 
Barker  replied  mechanically. 

"  Ah,  good!  Now,  Mr.  Barker  " — brisk- 
ly— "  I  don't  think  we  can  use  you  any 
longer  in  the  filing  department;  that  does 
not  just  seem  to  be  your  sphere;  not  cut 
out  for  that  kind  of  work,  don't  you  know?" 
He  paused  again,  while  the  wretched  Bar- 
ker choked  down  a  big  lump  of  misery  that 
was  rising  in  his  throat.  Fired!  How 
could  he  face  Lucy?  What  was  life  now? 
His  professional  pride  was  mortally  injured. 


"  No,  sir — that  is  certainly  not  the  place 
for  you.  It's  all  right  for  old  man  Meers, 
but  not  for  you.  Now,  Mr.  Barker,  I  am 
going  to  see  that  you  'are  transferred.  Yes, 
transferred  to  our  salesrooms.  I  like  your 
make-up,  and  as  you  have  been  here  two 
years  and  don't  seem  to  be  the  dullest 
man  in  the  place,  I  feel  sure  that — and,  if 
it's  agreeable  to  you,  you  may  begin  your 
duties  there  next  Monday  morning.", 

In  a  golden  haze  Barker  remembered  a 
handshake  and  heard  the  boss  ring  for  the 
messenger,  muttering  something  about  Miss 
Sparker. 

He  had  come  up  the  corridor  to  the  boss's 
office  on  air;  but  he  went  back  'on  wings. 
The  salesrooms!  A  salesman!  That  meant 
thirty-five  dollars  a  week,  because  not  a 
man  down  there  got  less  than  that!  He 
was  very  happy,  but  he  was  not  too  deaf  to 
overhear  the  following"  bit  of  conversation 
uttered  in  very  young  feminine  voices. 

"  Say,  Mame,  you  want  to  watch  your- 
self! Handle  that  there  Miss  Sparker  with 
gloves.  The  boss's  been  a  widower  for  a 
year  now — is  kind  of  stuck  on  her,  and 
sends  for  her  to  see  him  for  dictation  quite 
often.  He  ain't  had  no  regular  secretary 
for  quite  a  time,  but  it  looks  as  if  she's  goin' 
to  git  the  job— for  keeps.  So  be  careful, 
kid,  and  remember  her  name  ain't  Mr. 
Barker,  and  that  she  sits  over  here,  and  not 
in  there — see?" 


tr  u  u  u 

NO    MAN'S'  LAND 

"VY/HERE  the  vacuum  cleaners  mutter 

Ominous  and  awful  sound— 
And  impedimenta  clutter 
All  the  place,  each  room  around — 

Brooms  and  dusters,  pails  of  water, 
Mops  of  every  size  and  length, 

Weapons  making  fearful  slaughter 
Of  the  housewife's  nerves  and  strength 

Knowing  well  the  circumstances 
And  the  skirmish  vain  for  "  eats," 

Tis  a  brave  man  who  advances, 
But  a  wiser  who  retreats! 

Muzie  V.  Coruthers. 


Author  »1  "The  Untamed,"  "TrailinV  "The  Sevtnth  Man,"  "Black  Jack,"  etc. 


CHAPTER   XXVII. 


THE   WOOING. 


'  But  I  have  not  felt  hunger." 
He'  added  in  a  voice  of  wonder:  "Lis- 
ten!" 

BEN  CONNOR  awoke  the  next  morn-  Ruth  Manning  was  singing  in  her  room, 
ing  with  the  sun  streaming  across  the  and  Connor  turned  away  to  hide  his  frown, 
room  and  sprang  out  of  bed  at  once,  For  he  was  not  by  any  means  sure  whether 
worried.     For  about  dawn  noises  as  a  rule  the  girl  san'g  from  the  joy  she  found  in  this 
began  around  the  house  and  the  singing  of  great  adventure  or  because  of  David  Eden, 
the  old  negroes  farther  down  the  hill.    The  He  was  still   further   troubled  when .  she 
Garden  of  Eden  awakened  at  sunrise,  and  came  out  to   the  breakfast  table  in  the 
this  silence  even  when  the  sun  was  high  patio.    He  had  expected  that  she  would  be 
alarmed  the  gambler.    He  dressed  hastily,  more  or  less  confused  by  the  presence  of 
and  opening  his  door,  he  saw  David  walking  David  after  his  queer  talk  of  the  night  be- 
slowly  up  and  down  the  patio.    At  the  sight  fore,  but  sleep  seemed  to  have  wiped  every- 
of  Connor  he  raised  a  warning  finger.  thing  from  her  memory.    Her  first  nod,  to 
"  Let  us  keep  a  guard  upon  our  voices,"  be  sure,  was  for  the  gambler,  but  her  smile 
he  murmured,  coming  to  Connor.    "  I  have  was  for  David  of  Eden.     Connor  fell  into 
ordered  my  servants  to  move  softly  and  to  a  reverie  which  was  hardly  broken  through 
keep  from  the  house  if  they  may."  the  meal  by  the  deep  voice  of  David  or  the 
"  What's  happened?"  laughter  of  Ruth.     Their  gayety  was  a 
"  She  sleeps,  Benjamin."    He  turned  to-  barrier,  and  he  was,  subtly,  left  on  the  out- 


ward her  door  with  a  smile  that  the  gambler 
never  forgot.  "  Let  her  waken  rested." 

Connor  looked  at  the  sky. 

"  I've  come  too  late  for  breakfast,  even?" 

A  glance  of  mild  rebuke  was  turned  upon 
him. 

"  Surely,  Benjamin,  we  who  are  strong 
will  not  eat  before  her  who  is  weak?" 


side.  David  had  proposed  to  the  girl  a  ride 
through  the  Garden,  and  when  he  went  for 
the  horses  the  gambler  decided  to  make 
sure  of  her  position.  He  was  too  much 
disturbed  to  be  diplomatic.  He  went 
straight  to  the  point. 

"  I'm  sorry  this  is  such  a  mess  for  you; 
but  if  you  can  buck  up  for  a  while  it  won't 


"  Are  you  going  to  starve  yourself  be-     take  long  to  finish  the  job." 
cause  she's  sleepy?"  She  looked  at  him  without  understanding, 

This  story  began  in  the  Argosy-Allstory  Weekly  for  April  15. 

750. 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


751 


which  was  what  he  least  wanted  in  the 
world.  So  he  went  on:  "As  a  matter  of 
fact,  the  worst  of  the  job  hasn't  come. 
You  can  do  what  you  want  with  him  right 
now.  But  afterward — when  you  get  him 
out  of  the  valley  the  hard  thing  will  be  to 
hold  him." 

"  You're  angry  with  poor  David.  What's 
he  done  now?" 

••  Angry  with  him?  Of  course  not!  I'm 
a  little  disgusted,  that's  all." 

"  Tell  me  why  in  words  of  one  syllable, 
Ben." 

"  You're  too  fine  a  sort  to  have  under- 
stood. And  I  can't  very  well  explain." 

She  allowed  herself  to  be  puzzled  for  a 
moment  and  then  laughed. 

"  Please  don't  be  mysterious.  Tell  me 
frankly.'' 

"  Very  well.  I  think  you  can  make  David 
go  out  of  the  valley  wiien  we  go.  But  once 
we  have  him  back  ifi  a  town  the  trouble  will 
begin.  You  understand  why  he's  so — fond 
of  you,  Ruth?" 

"  Let's  not  talk  about  it." 

"  Sorry  to  make  you'blush.  But  you  see, 
it  isn't  because  you're  so  pretty,  Ruth,  but 
simply  because  you're  a  woman.  The  first 
he's  ever  seen." 

All  her  high  coloring  departed  at  once; 
a  pale,  sick  face  looked  at  Connor. 

"  Don't  say  it,"  murmured  the  girl.  "  I 
thought  last  night  just  for  a  moment — but 
I  couldn't  let  myself  think  of  it  for  an 
instant." 

"  I  understand,"  said  Connor  gently. 
"  You  took  all  that  highfaluting  poetry 
stuff  to  be  the  same  thing.  But,  say,  Ruth, 
I've  heard  a  young  buck  talk  to  a  young 
squaw — before  he  married  her-  Just  about 
the  same  line  of  junk,  eh?  What  makes 
me  sick  is  that  when  we  get  him  out  in  a 
town  he'll  lose  his  head  entirely  when  he 
sees  a  room  full  of  girls.  We'll  simply  have 
to  plant  a  contract  on  him  and — then  let 
him  go!" 

"  Do  you  think  it's  only  that?"  she  said 
again,  faintly. 

"  I  leave  it  to  you.  Use  your  reason, 
and  figure  it  out  for  yourself.  I  don't  mean 
that  you're  in  any  danger.  You  know 
you're  not  as  long  as  I'm  around! " 

She  thanked  him  with  a  wan  smile. 


"  But  how  can  I  let  him  come  near  me — - 
now?" 

"  It's  a  mess.  I'm  sorry  about  it.  But 
once  the  deal  goes  through  I'll  make  this 
up  to  you  if  it  takes  me  the  rest  of  my 
life.  You  believe  me?" 

"  I  know  you're  true  blue,  Ben!  And — I 
trust  you." 

He  was  a  little  disturbed  to  find  that  his 
pulse  was  decidedly  quickened  by  that  sim- 
ple speech. 

"  Besides,  I  want  to  thank  you  for  let- 
ting me  know  this.  I  understand  every- 
thing about  him  now! " 

In  her  heart  of  hearts  she  was  hating 
David  with  all  her  might.  For  all  night 
long,  in  her  dreams,  she  had  been  seeing 
again  the  gestures  of  those  strong  brown 
hands,  and  the  flash  of  his  eyes,  and  hearing 
the  deep  tremor  of  his  voice.  The  newness 
of  this  primitive  man  and  his  ways  and 
words  had  been  an  intoxicant  to  her;  be- 
cause of  his  very  difference  she  was  a  little 
afraid,  and  now7  the  warning  of  Connor 
chimed  in  accurately  with  a  premonition  of 
her  own.  That  adulation  poured  at  the  feet 
of  Ruth  Manning  had  been  a  beautiful  and 
marvelous  thing;  but  flung  down  simply  in 
honor  of  her  sex  it  became  almost  an  insult. 
The  memory  made  her  shudder.  The  ideal 
lover  whom  she  had  prefigured  in  some  of 
her  waking  dreams  had  always  spoken  with 
ardor — a  holy  ardor.  From  this  passion  of 
the  body  she  recoiled. 

Something  of  all  this  Connor  read  in  her 
face  and  in  her  thoughtful  silence,  and  he 
was  profoundly  contented.  He  had  at  once 
neutralized  all  of  David's  eloquence  and 
fortified  his  own  position.  It  was  both  a 
blow  driven  home  and  a  counter.  Not  that 
he  would  admit  a  love  for  the  girl;  he  had 
merely  progressed  as  far  as  jealousy.  He 
told  himself  that  his  only  interest  was  in 
keeping  her  from  an  emotion  which,  once 
developed,  might  throw  her  entirely  on  the 
side  of  David  and  ruin  their  joint  plans. 
He  had  refused  to  accompany  the  master  of 
the  Garden  and  the  girl  on  their  ride 
through  the  valley  because,  as  he  told  him- 
self, he  "  couldn't  stand  seeing  another 
grown  man  make  such  an  ass  of  himself  " 
as  David  did  when  he  was  talking  with  the 
girl. 


752  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 

He  contented  himself  now  with  watching  well    that   she   was   allowed   to   live   and 

her  face  when  David  came  back  to  the  breed." 

patio,  followed  by  Glani  and  the  neat-step-  "  Allowed    to    live?"    murmured    Ruth 

ping  little  mare,  Tabari.    The  forced  smile  Manning. 

with  which  she  met  the  big  man  was  a  "  To  keep  the  line  of  the  gray  horse 

personal  triumph  to  the  gambler.  perfect,"    said    David,    "  they    must    be 

•'  If  you  can  win  her  under  that  handi-  watched  with  a  jealous  eye,  and  those  which 

cap,  David,"  he  said  softly  to  himself,  u  you  are  weak  must  not  live.     The  mares  are 

deserve  her,  and  everything  else  you  can  killed  and  the  stallions  gelded  and  sold." 

get."  "  And  can  you  judge  the  little  colts?" 

David   helped   her   into   the  saddle  on  Her  voice  was  too  low  for  David  to  catch 
Tabari,  and  himself  sprang  onto  the  pad  a  sense  of  pain  and  anger  in  it. 
upon  Glani 's  back.    They  went  out  side  by  "  It  must  be  done.     It  is  a  duty.     To- 
side,  day  is  the  sixth  month  of  Timeh,  the  daugh- 

It  was  a  cool  day  for  that  season,  and  ter  of  Juri.     You  shall  witness  the  judging, 

the  moment  the  north  wind  struck  them  Elijah  is  the  master." 

David  shouted  softly  and  sent  Glani  at  a  His  face  hardened  at  the  name  of  Elijah, 

rushing  gallop  straight  into  the  teeth  of  the  and  the  girl  caught  her  breath.     But  be- 

wind.     Tabari   followed  at  a  pace  which  fore  she  could  speak  they  broke  out  of  a 

Ruth,  expert  horsewoman  though  she  was,  grove  and  came  in  view  of  a  wide  meadow 

had  never  dreamed  of.     For  the  first  time  across  which  four  yoked  cattle  drew  a  har- 

she  had  that  impression  of  which  Ben  Con-  row,  smoothing  the  plow  furrows  to  an  even, 

nor  had  spoken  to  her  of  the  horse  pouring  black  surface. 

itself  over  the  road  without  strain  and  with-  It  carried  the  girl  far  back ;  it  was  like 

out  jar  of  smashing  hoofs.  opening  an  ancient  book  of  still  more  an- 

Ruth   let   Tabari   extend   herself,    until  cient  tales;  the  musty  smell  completes  the 

the  mare  was  racing  with  ears  flat  against  illusion.     The   cattle   plodding  slowly   on, 

her  neck.    She  had  even  an  impression  that  seeming  to  rest  at  every  step,  filled  in  the 

Glani,   burdened   by  the  great  weight  of  picture  of  which  the  primitive  David  Eden 

David,  was  being  left  behind,  but  when  she  was  the  central  figure, 

glanced  to  the  side  she  saw  that  the  master  "  Yokes,"  she  cried.     "  I've  never  seen 

half  a  length  back,  was  keeping  a  strong  them  before!" 

pull  on  the  stallion,  and  Glani  went  smooth-  "  For  some  work  we  use  the  horses,  but 

ly,  easily,  with  enormous  strides,  and  fret-  the  jerking  of  the  harrow  ruins  their  shoul- 

ting  at  the  restraint.  ders.    Besides,  we  may  need  the  cattle  for 

She  gained  two  things  from  that  glance,  a  new  journey." 

The  first  was  a  sense  of  impatience  because  "A  journey?    With  those?1' 

the  stallion  kept  up  so  easily;  in  the  sec-  '  That  was  how  the  four  came  into  the 

ond  place,  the  same  wind  which  drove  the  Garden.     And  I  am  enjoined  to  have  the 

•long  hair  of  David  straight  back  blew  all  strong  wagons  always  ready   and   the  ox 

suspicious  thoughts  out  of  her  mind.     She  teams  always  complete  in  case  it  becomes 

drew  Tabari  back  to  a  hand  gallop  and  necessary  to  leave  this  valley  and  go  else- 

then.tp  a  walk  with  her  eyes  dimmed  by  where.    Of  course,  lhat  may  never  be." 

the  wind  of  the  ride  and  the  blood  tingling  

in  her  cheeks. 

"  It  was  like  having  wings,"  she  cried  CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

happily  as  David  let  the  stallion  come  up  DAVID  spEAKS  op  J£WELS  AND  SETTINGS. 
abreast. 

"  Tabari  is  sturdy,  but  she  lacks  speed,1'  T    IE  brought  Glani  to  a  halt.    They  had 

said  the  dispassionate  master.     "  When  she  left  the  sight  of  the  meadow,  though 

was  a  foal  of  six  months  and  was  brought  they  could  still  hear  the  snorting  of 

to  me  for  judgment,  I  thought  twice,  be-  the  oxen  at  their  labor,  a  distant  sound. 

cause  her  legs  were  short.    However,  it  is  Here,  on  one  side  of  the  road,  the  forest 

7  A 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN.  753 

tumbled  back  from  a  swale~of  ground  across  the  golden  wild  flowers,  and  the  blue  sky 

which  a  tiny  stream   leaped  and   flashed  behind  his  head.     Brother  to  Ben  Connor? 

with  crooked  speed,  and  the  ground  seemed  "  And  how  did  he  warn  you?"  she  asked, 

littered  with  bright  gold,  so  closely  were  "  That  I  must  not  talk  to  you  of  yourself, 

the  yellow  wild  flowers  packed.  because,  he  said,  it  shames  you.     Is  that 

"  Two   days   ago,''   said   David,    ;'  they  true?" 

were  only  buds.     See  them  now!"  "I  suppose  it  is,"  she  murmured.     Yet 

He  slipped  from  his  horse  and,  stooping,  she  was  a  little  indignant  because  Connor 

rose  again  in  a  moment  with  his  hands  full  had  presumed  to  interfere.     She  knew  he 

of  the  yellow  blossoms.  could  only  have  done  it  to  save  her  from 

"  They   have    a    fragrance    that   makes  embarrassment,    but    she   rebelled    at   the 

them  seem  far  away."  he  said.     "See!"  thought  of  Connor  as  her  conversational 

He  tossed  the  flowers  at  her;  the  wind  guardian. 

caught  them  and  spangled  her  hair  and  her  Put  a  guard  over  David  of  Eden,  and 

clothes  with  them,  and  she  breathed  a  rare  what  would  he  be?     Just  like  a  score  of 

perfume.     David  fell  to  clapping  his  hands  callow  youths  whom  she  had  known,  scat- 

and  laughing  like  a  child  at  the  picture  she  tering    foolish    commonplaces,    trying    to 

made.     She  had  never  liked  him  so  well  make  their  dull  eyes  tell  her  flattering  things 

as  she  did  at  this  moment.     She  had  never  which  they  had  not  brains  enough  to  put 

pitied  him  as  she  did  now;   she  was  not  into  words, 

wise  enough  to  shrink  from  that  emotion.  '"  I  am  sorry,"  said  David,  sighing.    ''  It 

''  It  was  made  for  you — this  place."  is  hard  to  stand  here  and  see  you,  and  not 

And  before  she  could  move  to  defend  talk  of  what  I  see.     When  the  sun  rises 

herself  he  had  raised  her  strongly,  light-  the  birds  sing  in  the  trees;  when  I  see  you 

ly  from  the  saddle,  and  placed  her  on  the  words  come  up  to  my  teeth." 

knoll  in  the  thickest  of  the  flowers.     He  He  made  a  grimace.     "  Well,  I'll  shut 

stood  back  to  view  his  work,  nodding  his  them  in.     Have  I  been  very  wrong  in  my 

satisfaction,  and  she,  looking  up  at  him,  talk  to  you?" 

felt  the  old  sense  of  helplessness  sweep  over  "  "  Think  you  haven't  talked  to  many  wo- 

her.     Every   now   and   then   David   Eden  men,"   said   Ruth.     "  And — most  men  do 

overwhelmed  her  like  an  inescapable  des-  not  talk  as  you  do." 

tiny;     there    was    something    foredoomed  "Most    men    are    fools,"   answered    the 

about  the  valley  and  about  him.  egoist.     "  \Vhat  I  say  to  you  is  the  truth, 

•  I  knew  you  would  look  like  this,"  he  but  if  the  truth  offends  you  I  shall  talk  of 

was  saying.     "  How  do  men  make  a  jewel  other  things." 

seem  more  beautiful?     They  set  it  in  gold!  He  threw  himself  on  the  ground  sullenly. 
And  so  with  you,  Ruth.     Your  hair  against  "  Of  what  shall  I  talk?" 
the  gold   is  darker  and   richer  and  more  "  Of  nothing,  perhaps.    Listen!" 
like  piles  and  coils  of  shadow.     Your  face  For  the  great  quiet  of  the  valley  was 
against  the  gold  is  the  transparent  white,  falling  on  her,  and  the  distances  over  which 
with  a  bloom  in  it.     Your  hands  are  half  her  eyes  reached  filled  her  with  the  de- 
lost  in  the  softness  of  that  gold.     And  to  lightful  sense  of  silence.    There  were  deep 
think  that  is  a  picture  you  can  never  see!  blue  mountains  piled  against  the  paler  sky; 
But  I  forget."  down  the  slope  and  through  the  trees  the 

His  face  grew  dark.  river  was  untarnished,  solid,  silver;  in  the 

'  Here  I  have  stumbled  again,  and  yet  boughs  behind  her  the  wind  whispered  and 

I    started   with  strong  vows  and  resolves,  then  stopped  to  listen  likewise.    There  was 

My  brother  Benjamin  warned  me!"  a  faint  ache  in  her  heart  at  the  thought 

It  shocked  her  for  a  reason  she  could  that  she  had  not  known  such  things  all  her 

not  analyze  to  hear  the  big  man  call  Con-  life.     She  knew  then  what  gave  the  face  of 

nor  his  brother.     Connor,  the  gambler,  the  David  of  Eden  its  solemnity.     She  leaned 

schemer!     And  here  was  David  Eden  with  a  little  toward  him.     >;  Now  tell  me  about 

the  green  of  the  trees  behind,  his  feet  in  yourself.     What  you  have  done." 
8  A 


754  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

"  Of  anything  but  that."  middle  of  his  belly;  it  had  a  great  blunt 

'  Why  not?"  square  end.-  Once  I  angered  him.     I  crept 

"  No  more  than  I  \vant  you  to  tell  me  to  him  when  he  slept — I  was  a  small  boy 

about  yourself  and  what  you  have  done,  then — and  I  trimmed  the  beard  down  to  a 

What  you  feel,  what  you  think  from  time  point. 

to  time,  I  wish  to  know;  I  am  very  happy  "  When  Luke  wakened  he  felt  the  beard 

to  know.     I  fit  in  those  bits  of  you  to  the  and  sat  for  a  long  time  looking  at  me.    I 

picture  I  have  made."  was  so  afraid  that  I  grew  numb,  I  remem- 

Once  more  the  egoist  was  talking!  ber.    Then  he  went  to  the  Room  of  Silence. 

"  But  to  have  you  tell  me  of  what  you  When  he  came  out  his  anger  was  gone,  but 

have  clone — that  is  not  pleasant.    I  do  not  he  punished  me.    He  took  me  to  the  lake 

wish    to    know    that    you    have    talked  and  caught  me  by  the  heels  and  swung  me 

to  other  men  and  smiled  on  them.     I  do  around  -his  head.     When  he  loosened  his 

not  wish  to  know  of  a  single  happy  day  you  fingers  I  shot  into  the  air  like  a  light  stone, 

spent  before  you  came  to  the  Garden  of  The  water  flashed  under  me,  and  when  I 

Eden.     But  I  shall  tell  you  of  the  four  struck  the  surface  seemed  solid.    I  thought 

men  who  are  my  masters  if  you  wish."  it  was  death,  for  my  senses  went  out,  but 

"  Tell  me  of  them  if  you  will."  Luke  waded  in  and  dragged  me  back  to  the 

"  Very  well.     John  was  the  beginning,  shore.       However,     his     beard     remained 

He  died  before  I  came.  Of  the  others  Mat-  pointed  till  he  died." 

thew  was  my  chief  friend.    He  was  very  old  He  chuckled  at  the  memory, 

and  thin.   His  wrist  was  smaller  than  yours,  "  Paul  reproved  Luke  for  what  he  had 

almost.    His  hair  was  a  white  mist.   In  the  done.     Paul  was  a  big  man,  also,  but  he 

evening  there  seemed  to  be  a  pale  moon-  was    short,    and    his   bigness    lay    in    his 

shine  around  his  face.  breadth.     He  had  no  hair,  and  he  stood 

"  He  was  very  small  and  old — so  old  that  under  Luke  nodding  so  that  the  sun  flashed 

sometimes  I  thought  he  would  dry  up  or  back  a,nd  forth  on  his  bald  head.    He  told 

dissolve  and  disappear.    Toward  the  last,  Luke  that  I  might  have  been  killed, 

before  God  called  him,  Matthew  grew  weak,  "  '  Better  teach  him  sober  manners  now/ 

and  his  voice  was  faint,  yet  it  was  never  said  Luke,  '  than  be  a  jester  to  knock  at 

sharp  or  shaken.     Also,  until  the  very  end  the  gate  of  God.' 

his  eyes  were  young,   for  his  heart  was  "  This  Paul  was  wonderfully  silent.    He 

young.  was  born  unhappy  and  nothing  could  make 

"  That  was  Matthew.    He  was  like  you.  him  smile.    He  used  to  wander  through  the 

He  liked  the  silence.     '  Listen/  he  would  valley  alone  in  the  middle  of  winter,  half 

say.     '  The  great  stillness  is  the  voice ;  God  dead  with   cold  and   eating  nothing.     In 

is  speaking.'     Then  he  would  raise  one  thin  those    times,    even   Luke   was   not   strong 

finger  and  we  caught  our  breath  and  lis-  enough  to  make  him  come  home  to  us. 

tened.  "  I  know  that  for  ten  days  at  one  time 

"  Do  you  see  him?"  he  had  gone  without  speech.    For  that  rea- 

"  I  see  him,  and  I  wish  that  I  had  known  son  he  loved  to  have  Joseph  with  him,  be- 

him."  cause  Joseph  understood  signs. 

"  Of  the  others,  Luke  was  taller  than  I.  "  But  when  silence  left  him,  Paul  was 

He  had  yellow  hair  as  long  and  as  coarse  great  in  speech.     Luke  spoke  in   a  loud 

as  the  mane  of  a  yellow  horse.     When  he  voice  ancl  Matthew  beautifully,  but  Paul 

rode  around  the  lake  we  could  hear  him  was  terrible.    He  would  fall  on  his  >.iees  in 

coming  for  a  great  distance  by  his  singing,  an  agony  and  pray  to  God  for  salvation  for 

for  his  voice  was  as  strong  as  the  neigh  of  us  and  for  himself.     While  he  kneeled  he 

Glani.     I  have  only  to  close  my  eyes,  and  seemed  to  grow  in  size.    He  filled  the  room. 

I  can  hear  that  singing  of  Luke  from  beside  And   his   words   were   like  whips.      They 

the  lake.     Ah,  he  was  a  huge  man!     The  made  me  think  of  all  my  sins.    That  is  how 

horses  sweated  under  him.  I  remember  Paul,  kneeling,  with  his  long 

"  His  beard  was  long;    it  came  to  the  arms  thrown  over  his  head. 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEX. 


755 


"  Matthew  died  in  the  evening  just  as  the 
moon  rose.  He  was  sitting  beside  me.  He 
put  his  hand  in  mine.  After  a  while  I  felt 
that  the  hand  was  cold,  and  when  I  looked 
at  Matthew  his  head  had  fallen. 

li  Paul  died  in  a  drift  of  snow.  We  al- 
ways knew  that  he  had  been  on  his  knees 
praying  when  the  storms  struck  him  and  he 
would  not  rise  until  he  had  finished  the 
prayer. 

"  Luke  bowed  his  head  one  day  at  the 
table  and  died  without  a  sound — in  spite 
of  all  his  strength. 

"  All  these  men  have  not  really  died  out 
of  the  valley.  They  are  here,  like  mists; 
they  are  faces  of  thin  air.  Sometimes  when 
I  sit  alone  at  my  table,  I  can  almost  see  a 
.-pirit-hand  like  that  of  Matthew  rise  with 
a  shadow-glass  of  wine. 

-  But  shall  I  tell  you  a  strange  thing? 
Since  you  came  into  the  valley,  these  mist- 
images  of  my  dead  masters  grow  faint  and 
thinner  than  ever." 

"  You  will  remember  me,  also,  when  I 
have  gone?'' 

"  Do  not  speak  of  it!  But  yes,  if  you 
should  go,  every  spring,  when  these  yellow 
flowers  blossom,  you  would  return  to  me 
and  sit  as  you  are  sitting  now.  However 
you  are  young,  yet  there  are  ways.  After 
Matthew  died,  for  a  long  time  I  kept  fresh 
flowers  in  his  room  and  kept  his  memory 
fresh  with  them.  But,"  he  repeated,  "  you 
are  young.  Do  not  talk  of  death!" 

\ot  of  death,  but  of  leaving  the  Gar- 
den." 

He  stared  gravely  at  him,  and  flushed. 

"  You  are  tormenting  me  as  I  used  to 
torment  my  masters  when  I  was  a  boy. 
But  it  is  wrong  to  anger  me.     Besides,  I 
shall  not  let  you  go." 
Xot  let  me  go?" 

"  Am  I  a  fool?"  he  asked  hotly.  u  Why 
should  I  let  you  go?" 

"  You  could  not  keep  me." 

It  brought  him  to  his  feet  with  a  start. 

"  What  will  free  you?" 

"  Your  own  honor,  David.'' 

His  head  fell. 

••  It  is  true.  Yes,  it  is  true.  But  let  us 
ride  on.  I  no  longer  am  pleased  with  this 
place.  It  is  tarnished;  there  are  unhappy 
thoughts  here!" 


"  What  a  child  he  is!"  thought  the  girl, 
as  she  climbed  into  the  saddle  again.  "  A 
selfish,  terrible,  wonderful  child!" 

It  seemed,  after  that,  that  the  purpose 
of  David  was  to  show  the  beauties  of  the 
Garden  to  her  until  she  could  not  brook 
the  thought  of  leaving.  He  told  her  what 
grew  in  each  meadow  and  what  could  be 
reaped  from  it. 

He  told  her  what  fish  were  caught  in  the 
river  and  the  lake.  He  talked  of  the  trees. 
He  swung  down  from  Glani,  holding  with 
hand  and  heel,  and  picked  strange  flowers 
and  showed  them  to  her. 

"  What  a  place  for  a  house!"  she  said, 
when,  near  the  north  wall,  they  passed  a 
hill  that  overlooked  the  entire  length  of  the 
valley. 

"  I  shall  build  you  a  house  there,"  said 
David  eagerly.  "  I  shall  build  it  of  strong 
rock.  Would  that  make  you  happy?  Very 
tall,  with  great  rooms." 

An  impish  desire  to  mock  him  came  to 
her. 

"  Do  you  know  what  I'm  used  to?  It's 
a  boarding  house  where  I  live  in  a  little 
back  bedroom,  and  they  call  us  to  meals 
with  a  bell." 

The  humor  of  this  situation  entirely 
failed  to  appeal  to  him. 

•'  I  also,"  he  said,  "  have  a  bell.  And  it 
shall  be  used  to  call  you  to  dinner,  if  you 
wish." 

He  was  so  grave  that  she  did  not  dare 
to  laugh.  But  for  some  reason  that  mo- 
ment of  bantering  brought  the  big  fellow 
much  closer  to  her  than  he  had  been  be- 
fore. And  when  she  saw  him  so  docile  to 
her  wishes,  for  all  his  strength  and  his 
mastery,  the  only  thing  that  kept  her  from 
opening  her  heart  to  him,  and  despising  the 
game  which  she  and  Connor  were  playing 
with  him,  was  the  warning  of  the  gambler. 

"  I've  heard  a  young  buck  talk  to  a 
young  squaw — before  he  married  her.  The 
same  line  of  junk!" 

Connor  must  be  right.  He  came  from 
the  great  city. 

But  before  that  ride  was  over  she  was 
repeating  that  warning  very  much  as  Odys- 
seus used  the  flower  of  Hermes  against  the 
arts  of  Circe.  For  the  Garden  of  Eden,  as 
they  came  back  to  the  house  after  the  cir- 


756 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


cuit,  seemed  to  her  very  much  like  a  little 
kingdom,  and  the  monarch  thereof  was  in- 
viting her  in  dumb-show  to  be  the  queen  of 
the  realm. 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

THE  OLD  DAYS. 

A  the  house  they  were  met  by  one 
of  the  negroes  who  had  been  wait- 
ing for  David  to  receive  from  the 
master  definite  orders  concerning  some 
woodchopping.  For  the  trees  of  the  gar- 
Men  were  like  children  to  David  of  Eden, 
and  he  allowed  only  the  ones  he  himself  de- 
signated to  be  cut  for  timber  or  fuel.  He 
left  the  girl  with  manifest  reluctance. 

"  For  when  I  leave  you  of  what  do  you 
think,  and  what  do  you  do?  I  am  like  the 
blind." 

She  felt  that  this  speech  was  peculiar 
in  character.  Who  but  David  of  Eden 
could  have  been  jealous  of  the  very 
thoughts  of  another?  And  smiling  at  this, 
she  went  into  the  patio  where  Ben  Connor 
was  still  lounging.  Few  things  had  ever 
been  more  gratifying  to  the  gambler  than 
the  sight  of  the  girl's  complacent  smile,  for 
he  knew  that  she  was  judging  David. 

"  WTiat  happened?"  he  asked. 

"  Nothing  worth  repeating.  But  I  think 
you're  wrong,  Ben.  He  isn't  a  barbarian. 
He's  just  a  child." 

"  That's  another  word  for  the  same 
thing.  Ever  see  anything  more  brutal  than 
a  child?  The  reddest  Indian  that  ever 
stepped  is  a  saint  compared  with  a  ten- 
year-old  boy." 

"  Perhaps.  He  acts  like  ten  years.  When 
I  mention  leaving  the  valley  he  flies  into  a 
tantrum;  he  has  taken  me  so  much  for 
granted  that  he  has  even  picked  out  the  site 
for  my  house." 

"  As  if  you'd  ever  stay  in  a  place  like 
this! " 

He  covered  his  touch  of  anxiety  with 
loud  laughter. 

"  I  don't  know,"  she  was  saying  thought- 
fully a  moment  later.  "  I  like  it — a  lot." 

"  Anything  seems  pretty  good  after 
Lukin.  But  when  your  auto  is  buzzing 
down  Broadway — " 


She  interrupted  him  with  a  quick  little 
laugh  of  excitement. 

"  But  do  you  really  think  I  can  make  him 
leave  the  valley?" 

"  Of  course  I'm  sure." 

"  He  says  there's  a  law  against  it." 

"  I  tell  you,  Ruth,  you're  his  law  now; 
not  whatever  piffle  is  in  that  Room  of 
Silence." 

She  looked  earnestly  at  the  closed  door. 
Her  silence  had  always  bothered  the  gam- 
bler, and  this  one  particularly  annoyed  him. 

"  Let's  hear  your  thoughts?"  he  asked 
uneasily. 

"  It's  just  an  idea  of  mine  that  inside 
that  room  we  can  find  out  everything  we 
want  to  know  about  David  Eden." 

"  What  do  we  want  to  know?"  growled 
Connor.  '  I  know  everything  that's  neces- 
sary. He's  a  nut  with  a  gang  of  the  best 
horses  that  ever  stepped.  I'm  talking  horse, 
not  David  Eden.  If  I  have  to  make  the 
fool  rich  it  isn't  because  I  want  to." 

She  returned  no  direct  answer,  but  after 
a  moment:  "  I  wish  I  knew." 

"What?" 

She  became  profoundly  serious. 

"  The  point  is  this:  he  may  be  something 
more  than  a  boy  or  a  savage.  And  if  he 
is  something  more,  he's  the  finest  man  I've 
ever  laid  eyes  on.  That's  why  I  want  to 
get  inside  that  room.  That's  why  I  want 
to  learn  the  secret — if  there  is  a  secret — the 
things  he  believes  in,  how  he  happens  to 
be  what  he  is  and  how- 
Connor  had  endured  her  rising  warmth 
of  expression  as  long  as  he  could.  Now  he 
exploded. 

"  You  dp  me  one  favor,"  he  cried  ex- 
citedly, more  moved  than  she  had  ever 
seen  him  before.  "  Let  me  do  your  thinking 
for  you  when  it  comes  to  other  men.  You 
take  my  word  about  this  David  Eden.  Bah! 
When  I  have  you  fixed  up  in  little  old  Man- 
hattan you'll  forget  about  him  and  his  mys- 
tery inside  a  week.  Will  you  lay  off  on  the 
thinking?" 

She  nodded  absently.  In  reality  she  was 
struck  by  the  first  similarity  she  had  ever 
noticed  between  David  of  Eden  and  Connor 
the  gambler:  within  ten  minutes  they  had 
both  expressed  remarkable  concern  as  to 
what  might  be  her  innermost  thoughts. 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEX. 


757 


She  began  to  feel  that  Connor  himself  might 
have  elements  of  the  boy  in  his  make  up — 
the  cruel  boy  which  he  protested  was  in 
David  Eden. 

She  had  many  reasons  for  liking  Connor. 
For  something  he  had  offered  her  an  escape 
from  her  old  imprisoned  life.  Again  he 
had  flattered  her  in  the  most  insinuating 
manner  by  his  complete  trust.  She  knew 
that  there  was  not  one  woman  in  ten  thou- 
sand to  whom  he  would  have  confided  his 
great  plan,  and  not  one  in  a  million  whose 
ability  to  execute  his  scheme  he  would  have 
trusted. 

More  than  this,  before  her  trip  to  the 
Garden  he  had  given  her  a  large  sum  of 
money  for  the  purchase  of  the  half-breed's 
gelding;  and  Ruth  Manning  had  learned  to 
appreciate  money.  He  had  not  asked  for 
any  receipt  His  attitude  had  been  such 
that  she  had  not  even  been  able  to  mention 
that  subject. 

Yet  much  as  she  liked  Connor  there  were 
many  things  about  him  which  jarred  on 
her.  There  was  a  hardness,  always  work- 
ing to  the  surface  like  rocks  on  a  hard 
soil.  Worst  of  all,  sometimes  she  felt  a  de- 
gree of  uncleanliness  about  his  mind  and  its 
working.  She  would  not  have  recoiled  from 
these  things  had  he  been  nearer  her  own 
age;  but  in  a  man  well  over  thirty  she  felt 
that  these  were  fixed  characteristics. 

He  was  in  all  respects  the  antipode  of 
David  of  Eclen.  It  was  easier  to  be  near 
Connor,  but  not  so  exciting.  David  wore 
her  out,  but  he  also  was  marvelously  stimu- 
lating. The  dynamic  difference  was  that 
Connor  sometimes  inspired  her  with  aver- 
sion, and  David  made  her  afraid.  She  was 
roused  out  of  her  brooding  by  the  voice 
of  the  gambler  saying:  "  When  a  woman 
begins  to  think  a  man  begins  to  swear." 

She  managed  to  smile,  but  these  cheap 
little  pat  quotations  which  she  had  found 
amusing  rnough  at  first  now  began  to  grate 
on  her  through  repetition.  Just  as  Connor 
tagged  and  labeled  his  idea'with  this  aph- 
orisms, so  she  felt  that  Connor  himself  was 
tagged  by  them.  She  found  him  consider- 
ing her  with  some  anxiety. 

•  You  haven't  begun  to  cloubt  me, 
Ruth?"  he  asked  her. 

And  he  put  out  his  hand  with  a  note  of 


appeal.  It  was  a  new  role  for  him  and  she 
at  once  disliked  it.  She  shook  the  hand 
heartily. 

"  That's  a  foolish  thing  to  say,"  she  as- 
sured him.  "  But — why  does  that  old  negro 
keep  sneaking  around  us?'' 

It  was  Zacharias.  who  for  some  time  had 
been  prowling  around  the  patio  trying  to 
find  something  to  do  which  would  justify 
his  presence. 

"  Do  you  think  David  Eden  keeps  him 
here  as  a  spy  on  us?1' 

This  was  too  much  for  even  Connor's  sus- 
picious mind,  and  he  chuckled. 

"  All  these  black  faces  want  to  hang 
around  and  have  a  look  at  you — that's  the 
point,"  he  answered.  li  Speak  to  him  and 
you'll  see  him  come  running." 

It  needed  not  even  speech;  she  smiled 
and  nodded  at  Zacharias,  and  he  came  to 
her  at  once  with  a  grin  of  pleasure  wrinkling 
his  ancient  face.  She  invited  him  to  sit 
down. 

"  I  never  see  you  resting,"  she  said. 

"  David  dislikes  an  idler,"  said  Zacharias, 
who  acknowledged  her  invitation  by  drop- 
ping his  withered  hands  on  the  back  of 
the  chair,  but  made  no  move  to  sit  down. 

"  But  after  all  these  years  you  have 
worked  for  him,  I  should  think  he  would 
give  you  a  little  house  of  your  own,  and 
nothing  to  do  except  take  care  of  your- 
self." 

He  listened  to  her  happily,  but  it  was 
evident  from  his  pause  that  he  had  not 
gathered  the  meaning  of  her  words. 

"  You  come  from  the  South?"  he  asked 
at  length. 

"  My  father  came  from  Tennessee." 

There  was  an  electric  change  in  the  face 
of  the  negro. 

"Oh,  Lawd,  oh,  Lawd!"  he  murmured, 
his  voice  changing  and  thickening  a  little 
toward  the  soft  darky  accent.  "  That's 
music  to  old  Zacharias!" 

<:  Do  you  come  from  Tennessee,  Zach- 
arias?" 

Again  there  was  a  pause  as  the  thoughts 
of  Zacharias  fled  back  t6  the  old  days. 

"  Everything  in  between  is  all  shadowy 
like  evening,  but  what  I  remember  most  is 
the  little  houses  on  both  sides  of  the  road 
with  the  gardens  behind  them,  and  the 


758 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


pickaninnies  rolling  in  the  dust  and  shout- 
ing and  their  mammies  coming  to  the  doors 
to  watch  them." 

"  How  long  ago  was  that?"  she  asked, 
deeply  touched. 

He  grew  troubled. 

"  Many  and  many  a  year  ago — oh,  many 
a  long,  weary  year,  for  Zacharias! " 

"  And  you  still  think  of  the  old  days?" 

"  When  the  bees  come  droning  in  the 
middle  of  the  day,  sometimes  I  think  of  the 
darkies  singing  in  the  fields.  But  I've  never 
thought  so  much  about  it  as  I  have  since 
you  came  to  the  Garden  of  Eden.  I  was 
the  stable  boy  for  the  master's  daughter. 
That  old  Sammy  horse  used  to  shine  like 
fire  when  Zacharias  brought  him  out  all 
saddled  for  young  miss.  She  was  like  you 
—just  so  like  that  the  heart  of  old  Zach- 
arias jumped  when  he  saw  you  the  first 
time.  Miss  Deborah  would  walk  around 
that  Sammy  horse  and  keep  frowning  and 
frowning,  and  then  she'd  take  her  crop  and 
rub  back  the  hair  the  wrong  way — but 
never  a  bit  of  dust  came  up! " 

He  struck  his  hands  lightly  together  and 
his  misty-bright  eyes  were  plainly  looking 
through  sixty  years  as  though  they  were  a 
day. 

"  Then  she'd  smile  at  Zacharias  while  I 
was  standing  at  the  head  of  that  Sammy 
horse  with  my  hat  in  my  hand.  Up  she'd 
climb  and  shake  down  the  long  riding  skirt, 
and  perk  up  one  side  of  her  little  black  hat, 
and  settle  into  her  jacket. 

"  '  Sammy  likes  you,  Zach,'  she'd  say, 
'  and  so  do  I ! ' 

"  And  then  off  she'd  go  down  the  road 
with  the  little  white  puffs  jumping  up  be- 
hind her  and  turning  into  mist,  and  laugh- 
ing and  laughing  just  because  she  was 
happy!" 

He  lapsed  into  the  old  talk  completely 
for  a  moment. 

"  Oh,  Zach,  he  ain't  goin'  ter  see  her 
no  mo'.  She's  done  gone  down  dat  road 
an'  she  ain't  never  come  back  no  mo'.  All 
the  windin's  of  dat  road,  dey  all  keep,  goin' 
away  an'  away  an'  she  ain't  never  gwine 
come  back  singing  on  Sammy  hawse  through 
the  evenin'!" 

"  But  why  did  you  leave  her?"  asked 
Ruth  tenderly. 


Zacharias  slowly  drew  his  eyes  away  from 
the  mists  of  the  past  and  became  aware 
of  the  girl's  face  once  more.  When  he 
spoke  again  the  dialect  was  gone. 

"  Because  my  soul  was  burning  in  sin. 
It  was  burning  and  burning!" 

"  But  you'd  like  to  go  back.  The  young 
missee  might  have  a  daughter — just  as 
young  as  I  am.  Wouldn't  you  like  to  go 
back?" 

The  head  of  Zacharias  fell  and  he  knitted 
his  fingers. 

"  Coming  to  the  Garden  of  Eden  was  like 
coming  into  heaven.  There's  no  way  of 
getting  out  again  without  breaking  the  law. 
The  Garden  is  just  like  heaven!" 

Connor  spoke  for  the  first  time. 

"Or  hell:  "he  exclaimed. 

It  caused  Ruth  Manning  to  cry  out  at 
him  softly ;  Zacharias  was  mute. 

"  Why  did  you  say  that?"  said  the  girl, 
growing  angry. 

"  Because  I  hate  to  see  a  bad  bargain," 
said  the  gambler.  "  And  it  looks  to  me  as 
if  our  friend  here  paid  pretty  high  for  any- 
thing he  gets  out  of  the  Garden." 

He  turned  sharply  on  the  negro. 

"  How  long  have  you  been  working 
here?" 

"Sixty  years.     Long  years!" 

"  And  what  have  you  out  of  it?  What 
clothes?" 

"  Enough  to  wear." 

"  What  food?" 

"  Enough  to  eat." 

"  A  house  of  your  own?" 

"  Xo." 

"  Land  of  your  own?" 

"  Xo." 

"  Sixty  years  and  not  a  penny  saved! 
That's  what  I  call  a  sharp  bargain!  What 
else  have  you  gained?" 

"  A  good  bright  hope  of  heaven." 

"  But  are  you  sure,  Zacharias?  Are  you 
sure?  Isn't  it  possible  that  .all  these  five 
white  masters  of  yours  may  have  been  mis- 
taken?" 

Zacharias  could  only  stare  in  his  horror. 
Finally  he  turned  away  and  went  silently 
across  the  patio. 

"  Ben,"  cried  the  girl  softly,  "  why  did 
you  do  it?  Aside  from  torturing  the  poor 
man,  what  if  this  comes  to  David's  ear?" 


THE    GARDEN   OF    ED EX 


759 


Connor  snapped  his  finger.  His  manner 
•was  that  of  one  who  knows  that  he  has 
taken  a  foolish  risk  and  wishes  to  brazen 
the  matter  out. 

-  It'll  never  come  to  the  ear  of  David: 
\Yhy?  Because  he'd  wring  the  neck  of  the 
old  chap  if  he  even  guessed  that  he'd  been 
talking  about  leaving  the  valley.  And  in 
the  meantime  I  cut  away  the  ground  be- 
neath David's  feet.  He  has  not  standing 
room,  pretty  soon.  Nothing  left  to  him, 
by  Jove,  but  his  own  conceit,  and  he  has 
tons  of  that!  Well,  let  him  use  it  and  get 
fat  on  it:" 

She  wondered  why  Connor  had  come  to 
actually  hate  the  master  of  the  Garden. 
Surely  David  of  Eden  had  never  harmed 
the  gambler.  She  remembered  something 
that  she  had  heard  long  before:  that  the 
hatred  always  lies  on  the  side  of  the  in- 
jurer  and  not  of  the  injured. 

They  heard  David's  voice,  at  this  point, 
approaching,  and  in  another  moment  a 
small  cavalcade  entered  the  patio. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

JUDGMENT. 

FIRST,  a  white  flash  beneath  the  shad- 
ow of  the  arched  way,  came  a  colt  at 
full  run,  stopping  short  with  four 
sprawling,  braced  feet  at  the  sight  of  the 
strangers.  It  was  not  fear  so  much  as  sur- 
prise, for  now  it  pricked  its  ears  and  ad- 
vanced a  dainty  step  or  two.  Ruth  cried 
out  with  delight  at  the  fawn-like  beauty  of 
the  delicate  creature.  The  Eden  Gray  was 
almost  white  in  the  little  colt,  and  with  its 
four  dark  stockings  it  seemed,  when  it  ran, 
to  be  stepping  on  thin  air.  That  impres- 
sion was  helped  by  the  comparatively  great 
length  of  the  legs. 

Next  came  the  mother,  walking,  as 
though  she  was  quite  confident  that  no 
harm  could  come  to  her  colt  in  this  home 
of  all  good  things,  but  with  her  fine  head 
held  high  and  her  eyes  luminous  with  con- 
cern, a  little  anxious  because  the  youngster 
had  been  out  of  sight  for  a  moment. 

And  behind  them  strode  David  with 
Elijah  at  his  side. 

Ruth  could  never  have  recognized  the 


old  negro  as  the  statuesque  figure  which 
had  confronted  David  on  the  previous  day. 
He  was  now  bowing  and  scraping  like  some 
withered  old  man,  striving  to  make  a  good 
impression  on  a  creditor  to  whom  a  great 
sum  was  owing.  She  remembered  then 
what  David  had  told  her  earlier  in  the  day 
about  the  judging  of  Timeh,  the  daughter 
of  Juri.  This,  then,  was  the  crisis,  and  here 
was  Elijah  striving  to  conciliate  the  grim 
judge.  The  old  man  kept  up  a  running 
fire  of  talk  while  David  walked  slowly 
around  the  colt.  Ruth  wondered  whv  the 

* 

master  of  the  Garden  did  not  cry  out  with 
pleasure  at  sight  of  the  beautiful  creature* 
Connor  had  drawn  her  back  a  little. 

"You  see  that  six  months'  mare?"  he 
said  softly,  with  a  tremor  in  his  voice. 
"  I'd  pay  ten  thousand  flat  for  her  the  way- 
she  stands.  Ten  thousand — more  if  it  were 
asked:" 

"  But  David  doesn't  seem  very  pleased." 

"  Bah!  He's  bursting  with  pleasure. 
But  he  won't  let  on  because  he  doesn't 
want  to  flatter  old  Elijah." 

"  If  he  doesn't  pass  the  colt  do  you  know 
what  happens?" 

"  What?" 

"They  kill  it!" 

"  I'd  a  lot  rather  see  them  kill  a  man: " 
snarled  Connor.  "But  they  won't  touch 
that  colt!'' 

"  I  don't  know.     Look  at  poor  Elijah:" 

David,  stopping  in  his  circular  walk,  now 
stood  with  his  arms  folded,  gazing  intently 
at  Timeh.  Elijah  was  a  picture  of  concern. 
The  whites  of  his  eyes  flashed  as  his  glances 
rolled  swiftly  from  the  colt  to  the  master. 
Once  or  twice  he  tried  to  speak,  but  seemed 
too  nervous  to  give  voice. 

At  length:  "A  true  daughter  of  Juri,  O 
David.  And  was  there  ever  a  more  honest 
mare  than  Juri?  The  same  head,  mark 
you,  deep  from  the  eye  to  the  angle  of  the 
jaw.  And  under  the  head — come  hither, 
Time*.'" 

Timeh  flaunted  her  heels  at  the  sun  and 
then  came  with  short,  mincing  steps. 

•  At  six  months,"  boasted  Elijah,  '•  she 
knows  my  voice  as  well  as  her  mother. 
Stay,  Juri.1" 

The  inquisitive  mare  had  followed  Ti- 
meh, but  now,  reassured,  she  dropped  her 


760 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


head  and  began  cropping  the  turf  of  the 
patio.  Still,  from  the  play  of  her  ears,  it 
was  evident  that  Timeh  was  not  out  of  the 
mother's  thoughts  for  an  instant. 

"Look  you,  David!"  said  Elijah.  He 
raised  the  head  of  Timeh  by  putting  his 
head  beneath  her  chin. 

"  I  can  put  my  whole  hand  between  the 
angles  of  her  jaw!  And  see  how  her  ears 
flick  back  and  forth,  like  the  twitching  ears 
of  a  cat!  Ha,  is  not  that  a  sign?" 

He  allowed  the  head  to  fall  again,  but 
he  caught  it  under  his  arms  and  faced 
David  in  this  manner,  throwing  out  his 
hand  in  appeal.  Still  David  spoke  not  a 
word. 

With  a  gesture  he  made  Elijah  move  to 
one  side.  Then  he  stepped  to  Timeh.  She 
was  uneasy  at  his  coming,  but  under  the 
.  first  touch  of  his  hand  Timeh  became  as 
still  as  rock  and  looked  at  her  mother  in  a 
scared  and  helpless  fashion.  It  seemed  that 
Juri  understood  a  great  crisis  was  at  hand; 
for  now  she  advanced  resolutely  and  with 
her  dainty  muzzle  she  followed  with  sniffs 
the  hand  of  David  as  it  moved  over  the 
little  colt.  He  seemed  to  be  seeing  with 
his  fingertips  alone,  kneading  under  the 
skin  in  search  of  vital  information.  Along 
the  muscles  those  dexterous  fingers  ran,  and 
down  about  the  heavy  bones  of  the  joints, 
where  they  lingered  long,  seeming  to  read 
a  story  in  every  crevice. 

Never  once  did  he  speak,  but  Ruth  felt 
that  she  could  read  words  in  the  brighten- 
ing, calm,  and  sudden  shadows  across  his 
face. 

Elijah  accompanied  the  examination  with 
a  running-fire  of  comment. 

"  There  is  quality  in  those  hoofs,  for 
you!  None  of  your  gray -blue  stuff  like  the 
hoofs  of  Tabari,  say,  but  black  as  night 
and  dense  as  rock.  Aye,  David,  you  may 
well  let  your  hand  linger  down  that  neck. 
She  will  step  freely,  this  Timeh  of  mine, 
and  stride  as  far  as  a  mountain-lion  can 
leap!  Withers  high  enough.  That  gives  a 
place  for  the  ligaments  to  take  hold.  A 
good  long  back,  but  not  too  long  to  carry 
a  weight.  She  will  not  be  one  of  your 
gaunt-bellied  horses,  either;  she  will  have 
wind  and  a  bottom  for  running.  She  will 
gallop  on  the  third  day  of  the  journey  as 


freely  as  on  the  first.  And  she  will  carry 
her  tail  well  out,  always,  with  that  big, 
strong  dock." 

He  paused  a  moment,  for  David  was 
moving  his  hands  over  the  hindlegs  and 
lingering  long  at  the  hocks.  And  the  face 
of  Elijah  grew  convulsed  with  anxiety. 

"  Is  there  anything  wrong  with  those 
legs?"  murmured  Ruth  to  Connor. 

"  Not  a  thing  that  I  see.  Maybe  the 
stifles  are  too  straight.  I  think  they  might 
angle  out  a  bit  more.  But  that's  nothing 
serious.  Besides,  it  may  be  the  way  Timeh 
is  standing.  What's  the  matter?" 

She  was  clinging  to  his  arm,  white-faced. 

"  If  that  colt  has  to  die  I— I'll  want  to 
kill -David  Eden!'' 

"Hush,  Ruth!  And  don't  let  him  see 
your  face!" 

David  moved  back  from  Timeh  and 
again  folded  his  arms. 

"  The  body  of  the  horse  is  one  thing," 
ran  on  Elijah  uneasily,  "  and  the  spirit  is 
another.  Have  you  not  told  us,  David, 
that  a  curious  colt  makes  a  wise  horse? 
That  is  Timeh!  Where  will  you  guess  that 
I  found  her  when  I  went  to  bring  her  to 
you  even  now?  She  had  climbed  up  the 
face  of  the  cliff,  far  up  a  crevice  where  a 
man  would  not  dare  to  go.  I  dared  not 
even  cry  out  to  her  for  fear  she  would  fall 
if  she  turned  her  head.  To  have  climbed 
so  high  was  almost  impossible,  but  how 
would  she  come  down  when  there  was  no 
room  for  her  to  turn? 

"  I  was  dizzy  and  sick  with  grief.  But 
Timeh  saw  me,  and  down  she  came,  with- 
out turning.  She  lifted  her  hoofs  and  put 
them  down  as  a  cat  lifts  and  puts  down 
wet  paws.  And  in  a  moment  she  was  safe 
on  the  meadow  and  frisking  around  me. 
Juri  had  been  so  worried  that  she  made 
Timeh  stop  running  and  nosed  her  all  over 
to  make  sure  that  she  was  unhurt  by  that 
climb.  But  tell  me:  will  not  a  colt  that 
risks  its  life  to  climb  for  a  tuft  of  grass,  run 
till  its  heart  breaks  for  the  master  in  later 
years?" 

For  the  first  time  David  spoke. 

"  Is  she  so  wise  a  colt?"  he  said. 

"  Wise?"  cried  Elijah,  his  eye  shining 
with  joy  at  the  opening  which  he  had 
made.  "  I  talk  to  her  as  I  talk  to  a  man. 


THE   GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


761 


She  is  as  full  of  tricks  as  a  dog.     Look, 
now!" 

He  leaned  over  and  pretended  to  pick  at 
the  grass,  whereat  Timeh  stole  up  behind 
him  and  drew  out  a  handkerchief  from  his 
hip  pocket.  Off  she  raced  and  came  back 
in  a  flashing  circle  to  face  Elijah  with  the 
cloth  fluttering  in  her  teeth. 

"  So!"  cried  Elijah,  taking  the  handker- 
chief again  and  looking  eagerly  at  the 
master  of  the  Garden.  "  Was  there  ever  a 
colt  like  my  Timeh?" 

"  The  back  legs,"  said  David  slowly. 

Elijah  had  been  preparing  himself  to 
speak  again,  with  a  smile.  He  was  ar-. 
rested  in  the  midst  of  a  gesture  and  his 
face  altered  like  a  man  at  the  banquet  at 
the  news  of  a  death. 

"  The  hind  legs,  David,"  he  echoed  hol- 
lowly. "  But  what  of  them?  They  are  a 
small  part  of  the  whole!  And  they  are  not 
wrong.  They  are  not  very  wrong,  oh  my 
master!" 

"  The  hocks  are  sprung  in  and  turned  a 
little." 

"  A  very  little.  Only  the  eye  of  David 
could  see  it  and  know  that  it  is  wrong!" 

"  A  small  flaw  makes  the  stone  break. 
At  a  rotten  knothole  the  great  tree  snaps 
in  the  storm.  And  a  small  sin  may  under- 
mine a  good  man.  The  hind  legs  are 
wrong,  Elijah." 

"  To  be  sure.  In  a  colt.  Many  things 
seem  wrong  in  a  colt,  but  in  the  grown 
horse  they  disappear!" 

"  This  fault  will  not  disappear.  It  is  the 
set  of  the  joint  and  that  can  never  be 
changed.  It  can  only  grow  worse." 

Elijah,  staring  straight  ahead,  was 
searching  his  brain,  but  that  brain  was 
numbed  by  the  calamity  which  had  be- 
fallen him.  He  could  only  stroke  the  lovely 
head  of  the  little  colt  and  pray  for  help. 

"  Yesterday,"  he  said  at  length  in  a  trem- 
bling voice,  "  Elijah,  as  a  fool,  spoke  words 
which  angered  his  master.  Back  on  my 
head  I  call  them  now.  David,  do  not  judge 
Timeh  with  a  wrathful  heart. 

"  Let  the  sins  of  Elijah  fall  on  the  head 
of  Elijah,  but  let  Timeh  go  unpunished  for 
my  faults." 

'  You  grow  old,  Elijah,  and  you  forget. 
The  judgment  of  David  is  never  colored 


by  his  own  likes  and  dislikes,  his  own 
wishes  and  prejudice.  He  sees  the  right, 
and  therefore  his  judgments  are  true." 

"  Aye,  David,  but  truth  is  not  merciful, 
and  blessed  above  all  things  is  mercy. 
When  you  see  Timeh,  think  of  Elijah. 
How  he  has  watched  over  the  colt,  and 
loved  it,  and  played  with  it,  and  taught  it, 
by  the  hours,  the  proper  manners  for  a  colt 
and  a  mare  of  the  Garden  of  Eden.'" 

"  That  is  true.  It  is  a  well-mannered 
colt." 

The  negro  caught  at  a  new  straw  of  hope. 

"  Also,  in  the  field,  if  two  colts  race 
home  for  water  and  Timeh  is  one,  she 
reaches  the  water  first— always.  She 
comes  to  me  like  a  child.  In  the  morning 
she  slips  out  of  the  paddock,  and  coming  to 
my  window,  she  puts  in  her  head  and  calls 
me  with  a  whinny  as  soft  as  the  voice  of 
a  man.  Then  I  arise  and  go  out  to  her  and 
to  Juri." 

Ruth  was  weeping  openly,  her  hand 
closed  hard  on  the  arm  of  Connor;  and 
she  felt  the  muscles  along  that  arm  con- 
tract. She  almost  loved  the  gambler  for 
his  rage  at  the  inexorable  David. 

"  Consider  Juri,  also,"  said  Elijah. 
"  Seven  times — I  numbered  them  on  my 
fingers  and  remembered — seven  times  when 
the  horses  were  brought  before  you  in  the 
morning,  you  have  called  to  Juri  and 
mounted  her  for  the  morning  ride — that 
was  before  Glani  was  raised  to  his  full 
strength.  And  always  the  master  has  said: 

"  l  Stout-hearted  Juri!  She  pours  out 
her  strength  for  her  rider  as  a  generous 
host  pours  out  his  wine!'  " 

David  frowned,  but  plainly  he  was 
touched. 

"Juri!"  he  called,  and  when  the  noble 
mare  came  to  him,  he  laid  his  hand  on  her 
mane. 

"  Who  has  spoken  of  Juri?  Surely  I  am 
not  judging  her  this  day.  It  was  Matthew 
who  judged  her  when  she  was  a  foal  of  six 
months." 

"And  it  was  Matthew,"  added  Elijah 
hastily,  "  who  loved  her  above  all  horses!" 

"Ah!"  muttered  David,  deeply  moved. 

"  Consider  the  heart  of  Juri,"  went  on 
Elijah,  timidly  following  this  new  thread 
of  argument.  "  When  the  mares  neigh  and 


762 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


the  colts  come  running,  there  will  be  none 
to  gallop  to  her  side.  When  she  goes  out 
in  the  morning  there  will  be  no  daughter  to 
gallop  around  and  around  her,  tossing  her 
head  and  her  heels.  And  when  she  comes 
home  at  night  there  will  be  no  tired  foal 
leaning  against  her  side  for  weariness." 

u  Peace,  Elijah!  You  speak  against  the 
law.'3 

In  spite  of  himself,  the  glance  of  Elijah 
turned  slowly  and  sullenly  until  it  rested 
upon  Ruth  Manning.  David  followed  the 
direction  of  that  look  and  he  understood. 
There  stood  the  living  evidence  that  he  had 
•broken  the  law  of  the  Garden  at  least  once. 
He  flushed  darkly. 

"  The  colt's  gone,"  said  Connor  in  a 
savagely-controlled  murmur  to  the  girl. 
"  That  devil  has  made  up  his  mind.  His 
pride  is  up  now!" 

Elijah,  too,  seemed  to  realize  that  he  had 
thrown  away  his  last  chance. 

He  could  only  stretch  out  his  hands 
with  the  tears  streaming  down  his  black, 
wrinkled  face  and  repeat  in  his  broken 
voice:  "  Mercy,  David,  mercy  for  Timeh 
and  Juri  and  Elijah!" 

But  the  face  of  David  was  iron. 

"  Look  at  Juri,"  he  commanded.  "  She 
is  flawless,  strong,  sound  of  hoof  and  heart 
and  limb.  And  that  is  because  her  sire  and 
her  mother  before  her  were  well  seen  to. 
No  narrow  forehead  has  ever  been  allowed 
to  come  into  the  breed  of  the  Eden  Grays. 
I  have  heard  Paul  condemn  a  colt  because 
the  very  ears  were  too  long  and  flabby  and 
the  carriage  of  the  horse  dull.  The  weak 
and  the  faulty  have  been  gelded  and  sent 
from  the  Garden  or  else  killed.  And  there- 
fore Juri  to-day  is  stout  and  noble,  and 

(To  be  concluded 


Glani  has  a  spirit  of  fire.  It  is  not  easy  to 
do.  But  if  I  find  a  sin  in  my  own  nature, 
do  I  not  tear  it  out  at  a  price  of  pain?  And 
shall  I  spare  a  colt  when  I  do  not  spare 
myself?  A  law  is  a  law  and  a  fault  is  a 
fault.  Timeh  must  die!" 

The  extended  arms  of  Elijah  fell.  Con- 
nor felt  Ruth  surge  forward  from  beside 
him,  but  he  checked  her  strongly. 

"  No  use! "  he  said.  "  You  could  change 
a  very  devil  more  easily  than  you  can 
change  David  now!  He's  too  proud  to 
change  his  mind." 

"Oh,"  sobbed  the  girl  softly,  "I  hate 
him!  I  hate  him!" 

"  Let  Timeh  live  until  the  morning," 
said  David  in  the  same  calm  voice.  "  Let 
Juri  be  spared  this  night  of  grief  and  un- 
easiness. If  it  is  done  in  the  morning  she 
will  be  less  anxious  until  the  dark  comes, 
and  by  that  time  the  edge  of  her  sorrow 
shall  be  dulled." 

"  Whose  hand,"  asked  Elijah  faintly— 
"  whose  hand  must  strike  the  blow?" 

"  Yesterday,"  said  David,  "  you  spoke  to 
me  a  great  deal  of  the  laws  of  the  Garden 
and  their  breaking.  Do  you  not  know  that 
law  which  says  that  he  from  whose  house- 
hold the  faulty  mare  foal  has  come  must 
destroy  it?  You  know  that  law.  Then  let 
it  not  be  said  that  Elijah,  who  so  loves  the 
law,  has  shirked  his  lawful  burden!" 

At  this  final  blow  poor  Elijah  lifted  his 
face. 

"  Lord  God! "  he  said,  "  give  me  strength. 
It  is  more  than  I  can  bear!" 

"Go!"  commanded  the  master  of  the 
Garden. 

The  negro  turned  slowly  away.  As  if  to 
show  the  way,  Timeh  galloped  before  him. 

NEXT  WEEK.) 


Watch  for  announcement  of 

EDGAR    FRANKLIN'S    NEXT    SERIAL 

It's  the  swiftest  moving  story  he  ever  wrote  and  will  start 
some  time  next,  month. 


BOXED    BOODLE. 


921 


•who  was  boarding  there  tinder  an  assumed 
name.  About  that  same  time  Susan  and 
her  mother  would  go  to  the  beach  for  their 
morning  stroll.  Once  more  the  \vay  \vould 
be  clear. 

So  it  happened.  When  Dick  saw  Miss 
\Vestwick  turn  toward  the  car  line,  and 
Susan  and  Mrs.  Ware  go  toward  the  beach, 
he  got  out  his  spade,  went  downstairs,  and 
out  through  the  kitchen  door. 

On  one  side  of  the  tree  the  sand  had  not 
been  disturbed  since  the  last  rain.  On  the 
other  side  it  showed  marks  of  Miss  West- 
wick's  searching  and  Richard  Q.'s  fall. 
There  Dick  began  digging. 

Perhaps  fifteen  inches  beneath  the  sur- 
face the  spade  struck  a  wooden  box.  It 
was  about  eighteen  inches  long,  six  by  six. 
Dick  flung  the  spade  aside,  grabbed  the 
box,  and  hastened  into  the  house. 

He  was  in  the  front  hall  when  it  dawned 
on  him  that  it  wouldn't  do  to  have  Susan 
and  her  mother  return  unexpectedly  and 
find  the  spade  and  the  signs  of  digging. 
Promptly  he  slipped  the  box  beneath  the 
hall  seat  and  hastened  out  to  the  back  yard. 
He  was  patting  down  the  last  shovelful  of 
sand  when  he  heard  footsteps  on  the  walk. 

"  Mr.  Mandeville!  What  on  earth  are 
you  doing?" 

Dick  swung  around.  It  was  Susan  and 
her  mother! 

"  Say! "  gasped  Richard  Q.  "  What  did 
you  call  me?" 

Susan  made  a  gesture  of  annoyance.  "  I 
didn't  intend  to  give  it  away,"  she  smiled; 
"  but  I've  known  you  all  the  time.  I  saw 
your  picture  in  the  papers — about  thirty 
days  ago.  And  now,  sir,"  she  went  on  with 
mock  gravity,  "  what  does  this  mean?  You 
—an  ex-convict — coming  here  under  an  as- 
sumed name,  and  surreptitiously  digging 
holes  in  our  back  yard." 

"I'll  tell  you,  Miss  Ware,  of  course," 
Dick  managed  to  reply.  '•  Been  wanting 
to  tell  you  all  the  time.  I'll  do  better.  I'll 
give  you  half  of  it.  Come  on!" 

He  led  the  way  to  the  front  hall,  and 
reached  beneath  the  hall  seat. 

The  box  was  gone! 

"  What's  the  matter  with  you?"  demand- 
ed Susan.  "  Did  you  dig  up  a  box?  If 
you  did,  I'll  thank  you  to  put  it  back.  I 


buried  that  box  there  myself.  It  contains 
my  poor — little — dead — canary." 

Richard  Q.  sat  down. 

"  And  if  any  one  has  taken  that  box  from 
where  you  put  it,  it  was  Miss  West.  I  saw 
her  hurrying  down  the  street  with  a  pack- 
age under  her  arm." 

"  You  did?"  Dick  jumped  up.  "  Aha! 
She  came  back  after  something,  saw  me 
hide  the  box,  waited  until  I  had  gone  to 
the  back  yard  again,  then  stole  the  box 
and  skipped.  She  thinks  she's  got  a  mil- 
lion dollars  and  it's  only — " 

"Say!"  cried  Susan,  looking  around  at 
her  mother  as  though  for  protection,  "  are 
you  and  Miss  West  crazy?" 

Suddenly  Dick  broke  off  laughing.  He 
grabbed  his  spade.  "  Come  on!"  he  cried. 
"  Back  to  the  trenches!"  He  hastened  out 
to  the  back  yard  again  and  began  tearing 
up  the  sand  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  tree. 

He  was  not  long  uncovering  a  box.  This 
one  was  the  size  of  a  full-grown  suit  case. 
He  carried  it  into  the  kitchen,  laid  it  on  the 
table,  and  broke  it  open. 

Mrs.  Ware  and  Susan  were  too  stunned 
for  speech — almost.  The  box  was  packed 
with  bills  of  large  denomination,  all  tied 
in  neat  bundles. 

The  doorbell  jangled  sharply.  Mrs.  Ware 
answered,  and  returned  with  two  men,  one 
of  whom  Dick  recognized  as  Abner  West- 
wick.  Old  Westwick  looked  at  the  box  of 
greenbacks,  and  nearly  fainted.  Then  he 
introduced  his  companion:  "  Mr.  Levers, 
of  the  Secret  Service." 

The  officer  fixed  a  suspicious  eye  on 
Richard  Q.  Then  he  spied  Juan  Garcia 's 
million. 

"  Aha! "  he  cried.    "  At  last  I've  got  it!  " 

"  So  you  knew  about  it,  too!"  exclaimed 
Dick,  stepping  between  Levers  and  the  old 
Mexican's  million.  "  Well,  you're  too  late. 
I  was  in  the  garden  this  morning  planting 
onions  and  I  found  it." 

"  I  don't  think  you  want  it,"  grinned 
Levers.  "  That's  all  counterfeit.  Wait  a 
minute! "  the  Secret  Service  operative  went 
on,  raising  a  hand  for  silence.  "  You  see, 
we've  been  on  the  trail  of  this  for  months. 
It  was  made  in  the  East.  WTe  got  the 
whole  mob  except  one.  He  skipped  to 
Mexico  with  this  stuff,  and  died.  A  Mex- 


922 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


ican  brought  it  here,  then  vanished.  When 
he  died  night  before  last,  in  jail,  we  located 
him.  At  the  same  time  we  located  the  car- 
man who  recalled  the  Mexican  with  the 
suit  case.  A  canvas  of  the  beach  district 
indicated  that  the  man  probably  leased  a 
house  from  Mr.  Westwick.  I  found  Mr. 
Westwick  reading  the  newspaper  account 
that  came  out  on  Garcia's  death;  but  Mr. 
Westwick  couldn't  recall  the  matter  until 
I  told  him  the  money  was  all  counterfeit, 
a  trifling  detail  we  had  purposely  omitted 
in  the  news  story.  Then  he  suddenly  re- 
called everything.  So,  we're  at  the  end  of 
the  chase.  I'll  take  this  '  queer  '  and — " 
"  Take  it! "  laughed  Richard  Q.  "  This 
has  been  a  queer  proposition  right  from  the 
get-away." 

VII. 

LATER  that  evening,  Susan,  sitting  on 
the  front  porch,  gazing  pensively  at  the 
precise  spot  where  Richard  Q.  Mandeville, 
alias  Georgie  Richards,  had  passed  from 


view  down  the  street,  heard  a  strange  call. 
It  came  from  somewhere  about  the  fence 
of  dahlias.  She  stepped  quickly  to  the 
edge  of  the  porch  and  looked,  and  her  ob- 
streperous little  heart  nearly  knocked  her 
off  the  porch. 

There,  by  the  fence,  was  Richard  Q. 
With  both  hands  he  had  parted  the  dahlias 
so  he.  could  look  between  them  at  Susan. 
And  the  dahlias  in  all  their,  glory  were  no 
brighter  than  Richard  Q.'s  face.  "  Look!" 
Dick  pointed  to  the  sign  that  swung  in  the 
breeze:  "  Select  Board  and  Rooms." 
"  I'm  one  of  the  select  now,  Miss  Ware. 
Say,  going  to  the  beach  this  evening?" 

"  Well,  perhaps."  Susan  was  biting  her 
pretty  lips  shamefully.  "  But  why  are  you 
staying?  That  treasure — " 

"You  said  it!"  Dick  broke  in.  "You 
see,  Miss  Westwick  got  the  dead  canary, 
the  Secret  Service  man  got  that  '  queer ' 
million,  while  I — I'm  going  to  stick  around 
until  I  get  the  treasure.  Know  what  I 
mean?" 


Part  VI 


Author  Of  "The  Untamed,"  "Trailin1,"  "The  Sevintb  Man,"  "Black  Jack."  etc. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 


THE  TRIUMPH. 


"Are  you  a  man?"  she  asked  him, 
through  her  set  teeth.  "  Are  you  going  to 
let  that  beautiful  little  thing  die?" 

DAVID  watched  them  go,  and  while        "  I'd  rather  see  the  cold-hearted  fool  die 
his  back  was  turned  a  fierce,  soft     in  place  of  Timeh.    But  what  can  we  do? 
dialogue  passed  between  Ruth  Man-     Nothing.    Just  smile  in  his  face." 
ning  and  Ben  Connor.  "  I  hate  him!"  she  exclaimed. 

This  story  began  in  the  Argosy-Allstory  Weekly  for  April  15. 


THE    GARDEN   OF    EDEX. 


92° 


"If  you  hate  him,  then  use  him.  Will 
you?" 

"  If  I  can  make  him  follow  me,  tease 
him  to  come,  make  him  think  I  love  him, 
I'll  do  it.  I'd  do  anything  to  torture  him." 

"  I  told  you  he  was  a  savage." 

"  You  were  right,  Ben.  A  fiend — not  a 
man!  Oh,  thank  Heavens  that  I  see 
through  him." 

Anger  gave  her  color  and  banished  her 
tears.  And  when  David  turned  he  found 
what  seemed  a  picture  of  pleasure.  It  was 
infinitely  grateful  to  him.  If  he  had 
searched  and  studied  for  the  words  he  could 
not  have  found  anything  to  embitter  her 
more  than  his  first  speech. 

"  And  what  do  you  think  of  the  justice 
of  David?"  he  asked,  coming  to  them. 

She  could  not  speak;  luckily  Connor 
stepped  in  and  filled  the  gap  of  awkward 
silence. 

u  A  very  fine  thing  to  have  done,  Brother 
David,"  he  said.  "  Do  you  know  what  I 
thought  of  when  I  heard  you  talk?" 

"  Of  what?"  said  David,  composing  his 
face  to  receive  the  compliment.  At  that 
Ruth  turned  suddenly  away,  for  she  dared 
not  trust  her  eyes,  and  the  hatred  which 
burned  in  them. 

"  I  thought  of  the  old  story  of  Abraham 
and  Isaac.  You  were  offering  up  something 
as  dear  to  you  as  a  child,  almost,  to  the 
law  of  the  Garden  of  Eden." 

"  It  is  true,"  said  David  complacently. 
"  But  when  the  flesh  is  diseased  it  must  be 
bunied  away." 

He  called"  to  Ruth:  "And  you,  Ruth?" 

This  childish  seeking  after  compliments 
made  her  smile,  and  naturally  he  misjudged 
the  smile. 

"  I  think  with  Benjamin,"  she*  said 
softly. 

"  Yet  my  ways  in  the  Garden  must  seem 
strange  to  you,"  went  on  David,  expand- 
ing in  the  warmth  of  his  own  sense  of  vir- 
tue. "  But  you  will  grow  accustomed  to 
them.  I  know." 

The  opening  was  patent.  She  was  be- 
ginning to  nod  her  acquiescence  when  Con- 
nor, in  alarm,  tapped  on  the  table,  once 
and  again  in  swift  telegraphy:  "  No!  No!" 

The  faint  smile  went  out  on  her  face. 

"  No,"  she  said  to  David. 


The  master  of  the  Garden  turned  a 
glance  of  impatience  and  suspicion  upcn 
the  gambler,  but  Connor  carefully  made 
his  face  a  blank.  He  continued  to  drum 
idly  on  the  edge  of  the  table,  and  the  idle 
drumming  was  spelling  to  the  girl's  quick 
ear:  "Out!" 

"  You  cannot  stay?"  murmured  David. 

She  drank  in  his  stunned  expression.  It 
was  like  music  to  her. 

"  Would  you,"  she  said,  "  be  happy  away 
from  the  Garden,  and  the  horses  and  your 
servants?  No  more  am  I  happy  away  from 
my  home." 

"  You  are  not  happy  with  us?"  muttered 
David.  "  You  are  not  happy?" 

"  Could  you  be  away  from  the  Garden?" 

"  But  that  is  different.  The  Garden  was 
made  by  four  wise  men." 

"  By  five  wise  men,"  said  the  girl.  "  For 
you  are  the  fifth." 

He  was  so  blind  that  he  did  not  perceive 
the  irony. 

"  And  therefore,"  he  said,  "  the  Garden 
is  all  that  the  heart  should  desire.  John 
and  Matthew  and  Luke  and  Paul  made  it 
to  fill  that  purpose." 

"  But  how  do  you  know  they  succeeded? 
You  have  not  seen  the  world  beyond  the 
mountains." 

"  It  is  full  of  deceit,  hard  hearts,  cruelty, 
and  cunning." 

"It  is  full  of  my  dear  friends,  David!" 

She  thought  of  the  colt  and  the  mare  and 
Elijah ;  and  it  became  suddenly  easy  to  lure 
and  deceive  this  implacable  judge  of  others. 
She  touched  the  arm  of  the  master  lightly 
with  her  finger  tips  and  smiled. 

"  Come  with  me,  and  see  my  world!" 

"  The  law  which  the  four  made  for  me — 
I  must  not  leave!" 

"  Was  it  wrong  to  let  me  enter?" 

"  You  have  made  me  happy,"  he  argued 
slowly.  "  You  have  made  me  happier  than 
I  was  before.  And  surely  I  could  not  have 
been  made  happy  by  that  which  is  wrong. 
No,  it  was  right  to  bring  you  into  the  val- 
ley. The  moment  I  looked  at  you  I  knew 
that  it  was  right." 

"  Then,  will  it  be  wrong  to  go  out  with 
me?  ,You  need  not  stay!  But  see  what 
lies  beyond  the  mountains  before  you  judge 
it!" 


924 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


He  shook  his  head. 

"  Are  you  afraid?  It  will  not  harm 
you." 

He  flushed  at  that.  And  then  began  to 
walk  up  and  down  across  the  patio.  She 
saw  Connor  white  with  anxiety,  but  about 
Connor  and  his  affairs  she  had  little  con- 
cern at  this  moment.  She  felt  only  a  cruel 
pleasure  in  her  control  over  this  man,  half 
savage  and  half  child.  Now  he  stopped 
abruptly  before  her. 

"  If  the  world,  after  I  see  it,  still  dis- 
pleases me,  when  I  return,  will  you  come 
with  me,  Ruth?  Will  you  come  back  to 
the  Garden  of  Eden?"  ' 

In  the  distance  Ben  Connor  was  gestur- 
ing desperately  to  make  her  say  yes.  But 
she  could  not  resist  a  pause — a  pause  in 
which  torment  showed  on  the  face  of  David. 
And  then,  deliberately,  she  made  her  eyes 
soften — made  her  lips  smile. 

"Yes,  David,  I  will  come  back!" 

He  leaned  a  little  toward  her,  then 
straightened  with  a  shudder  and  crossed 
the  patio  to  the  Room  of  Silence.  Behind 
that  door  he  disappeared,  and  left  Connor 
and  the  girl  alone.  The  gambler  threw 
down  his  arms  as  if  abandoning  a  burden. 

•"  Why  in  the  name  of  God  did  you  let 
him  leave  you?"  he  groaned.  "  Why? 
Why?  Why?" 

"  He's  going  to  come,"  asserted  Ruth. 

"  Never  in  a  thousand  years.  The  fool 
will  talk  to  his  dummy  god  in  yonder  and 
come  out  with  one  of  his  iced  looks  and 
talk  about  '  judgment ' !  Bah ! " 

"  He'll  come." 

"  What  makes  you  think  so?" 

"  Because — I  know." 

"  You  should  have  waited  -  -  to-morrow 
you  could  have  done  it,  maybe,  but  to-day 
is  too  soon." 

"  Listen  to  me,  Ben.  I  know  him.  I 
know  his  childish,  greedy  mind.  He  wants 
me  just  as  much  as  he  wants  his  own  way. 
It's  partly  because  I'm  new  to  him,  being 
a  woman.  It's  chiefly  because  I'm  the  first 
thing  he's  ever  met  that  won't  do  what  he 
wants.  He's  going  to  try  to  stay  with  me 
until  he  bends  me."  She  flushed  with  an- 
gry excitement. 

"  It's  playing  with  fire.  Ruth.  I  know 
you're  clever,  but— 


"  You  don't  know  how  clever,  but  I'm 
beginning  to  guess  what  I  can  do.  I've  lost 
all  feeling  about  that  cruel  barbarian,  Ben. 
That  poor  little  harmless,  pretty  colt— oh, 
I  want  to  make  David  Eden  burn  for  that! 
And  I  can  do  it.  I'm  going  to  wind  him 
around  my  finger.  I've  thought  of  ways 
while  I  stood  looking  at  him  just  now.  I 
know  how  I  can  smile  at  him,  and  use  my 
eyes,  and  woo  him  on,  and  pretend  to  be 
just  about  to  yield  and  come  back  with 
him — then  grow  cold  the  next  minute  and 
give  him  his  work  to  do  over  again.  I'm 
going  to  make  him  crawl  on  his  knees  in 
the  dust.  I'm  going  to  make  a  fool  of  him 
before  people.  I'm  going  to  make  him  sign 
over  his  horses  to  us  to  keep  them  out  of 
his  vicious  power.  And  .1  can  do  it — I  hate 
him  so  that  I  know  I  can  make  him  really 
love  me.  Oh,  I  know  he  doesn't  really  love 
me  now.  I  know  you're  right  about  him. 
He  simply  wants  me  as  he'd  want  another 
horse.  I'll  change  him.  I'll  break  him. 
When  he's  broken  I'm  going  to  laugh  in  his 
face — and  tell  him — to  remember  Timeh!" 

"Ruth!"  gasped  Connor. 

He  looked  guiltily  around,  and  when  he 
was  sure  no  one  was  within  reach  of  her 
voice,  he  glanced  back  with  admiration. 

"  By  the  Lord,  Ruth,  who'd  ever  have 
guessed  at  all  this  fire  in  you?  Why,  you're 
a  wonder.  And  I  think  you  can  do  it.  If 
you  can  only  get  him  out  of  the  infernal 
Garden.  That's  the  sticking  point!  We 
make  or  break  in  the  next  ten  minutes!" 

But  he  had  hardly  finished  speaking  be- 
fore David  of  Eden  came  out  of  the  Room 
of  Silence,  and  with  the  first  glance  at  his 
face  they  knew  that  the  victory  was  theirs. 
David  of  Eden  would  come  with  them  into 
the  world! 

"  I  have  heard  the  Voice,"  he  said,  "  and 
it  is  just  and  proper  for  me  to  go.  In  the 
morning,  Ruth,  we  shall  start!" 


CHAPTER    XXXII. 

THE  LAST  DAY. 

NIGHT  came  as  a  blessing  to  Ruth,  for 
the  scenes  of  the  early  day  had  ex- 
hausted her.     At  the  very  moment 
when  David  succumbed  to  her  domination, 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


GO- 

«7^-_> 


her  own  strength  began  to  fail.  As  for 
Connor,  it  was  another  story.  The  great 
dream  which  had  come  to  him  in  far  away 
Lukin,  when  he  watched  the  little  gray 
gelding  win  the  horse  race,  was  now  verg- 
ing toward  a  reality.  The  concrete  accom- 
plishment was  at  hand.  Once  in  the  world 
it  was  easy  to  see  that  David  would  be- 
come clay,  molded  by  the  touch  of  clever 
Ruth  Manning,  and  then — it  would  be  sim- 
ply a  matter  of  collecting  the  hiillions  as 
they  rolled  in. 

But  Ruth  was  tired.  Only  one  thing  sus- 
tained her,  and  that  was  the  burning  eager- 
ness to  humble  this  proud  and  selfish  David 
of  Eden.  When  she  thought  how  many 
times  she  had  been  on  the  verge  of  open 
admiration  and  sympathy  with  the  man, 
she  trembled  and  grew  cold.  But  through 
the  fate  of  poor  little  Timeh,  she  thanked 
Heaven  that  her  eyes  had  be  n  opened. 

She  went  to  her  room  shortly  after  din- 
ner, and  she  slept  heavily  until  the  first 
grayness  of  the  morning.  Once  awake,  in 
spite  of  the  early  hour,  she  could  not  sleep 
again,  so  she  dressed  and  went  into  the 
pati«.  Connor  was  already  there,  pacing 
restlessly.  He  had  been  up  all  night,  he- 
told  her,  turning  over  possibilities. 

"  It  seems  as  though  everything  has 
worked  out  too  much  according  to  sched- 
ule," he  said.  "  There'll  be  a  break.  Some- 
thing will  happen  and  smash  everything!" 

"  Nothing  will  happen,"  she  assured  him 
calmly. 

He  took  her  hand  in  his  hot  fingers. 

"  Partner  "  —he  began,  and  then  stopped 
as  though  he  feared  to  let  himself  go  on. 

"  Where  is  he?"  she  asked. 

"  On  his  mountain,  waiting  for  the  sun, 
I  guess.  He  told  the  black-faces  a  while 
ago  that  he  was  leaving  to-day.  Great  ex- 
citement. They're  all  chattering  about  it 
down  in  the  servants'  house." 

"  Is  no  one  here?" 

"  Not  a  soul,  I  guess." 

"  Then — we're  going  into  that  Room  of 
Silence!" 

"  Take  that  chance  now?  Never  in  the 
\vorld!  Why,  Ruth,  if  he  saw  us  in  there, 
or  guessed  we'd  been  there,  he'd  probably 
murder  us  both.  You  know  how  gentle  he 
is  when  he  gets  well  started?" 


"  But  how  will  he  know?  No  one  is 
here,  and  David  won't  be  back  from  the 
mountain  for  a  long  time  if  he  waits  for 
the  sun." 

"  Just  stop  thinking  about  it,  Ruth." 

"  I'll  never  stop  as  long  as  I  live,  unless 
I  see  it.  I've  dreamed  steadily  about  that 
room  all  night." 

"  Go  alone,  then,  and  I'll  stay  here." 

She  went  resolutely  across  the  patio,  and 
Connor,  following  with  an  exclamation, 
caught  her  arm  roughly  at  the  door. 

"You  aren't  serious?" 

"  Deadly  serious!" 

The  glitter  of  her  dark  eyes  convinced 
him  more  than  words. 

"  Then  we'll  go  together.  But  make  it 
short!" 

They  swept  the  patio  with  conscience- 
stricken  glances,  and  then  opened  the  door. 
As  they  did  so,  the  ugly  face  of  Joseph  ap- 
peared at  the  entrance  to  the  patio,  looked 
and  hastily  was  withdrawn. 

"  This  is  like  a  woman,"  muttered  Con- 
nor, as  they  closed  the  door  with  guilty- 
softness  behind  them.  "  Risk  her  life  for 
a  secret  that  isn't  worth  a  tinker's  damn!" 

For  the  room  was  almost  empty,  and 
what  was  in  it  was  the  simplest  of  the  sim- 
ple. There  was  a  roughly  made  table  in 
the  center.  Five  chairs  stood  about  it.  On 
the  table  was  a  book,  and  the  seven  articles 
made  up  the  entire  furnishings.  Connor 
was  surprised  to  see  tears  in  the  eyes  of 
Ruth. 

"Don't  you  see?"  she  murmured  in  re- 
ply to  his  exclamation.  "  The  four  chairs 
for  the  four  dead  men  when  David  sits 
down  in  his  own  place?" 

"  Well,  what  of  that?" 

"  What's  in  the  book?" 

"  Are  you  going  to  wait  to  see  that?" 

"  Open  the  door  a  little,  Ben,  and  then 
we  can  hear  if  any  one  comes  near." 

He  obeyed  and  came  back,  grumbling. 
'  We  can  hear  every  one  except  David. 
That  step  of  his  wouldn't  break  eggs." 

He  found  the  girl  already  poring  over 
the  first  page  of  the  old  book,  on  which 
there  was  writing  in  a  delicate  hand. 

She  read  aloud:  "  The  story  of  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden,  who  made  it  and  why  it  was 
made.  Told  without  error  by  Matthew." 


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ARGOSY-ALLSTORY    WEEKLY. 


"Hot  stuff!"  chuckled  Connor.  u  We 
got  a  little  time  before  the  sun  comes  up. 
But  it's  getting  red  in  the  east.  Let's  hear 
some  more." 

There  was  nothing  imposing  about  the 
book.  It  was  a  ledger  with  half-leather 
binding  such  as  storekeepers  use  for  ac- 
counts. Time  had  yellowed  the  edges  of 
the  paper  and  the  ink  was  dulled.  She 
read: 

"In  the  beginning  there  was  a  man 
whose  name  was  John." 

"  Sounds  like  the  start  of  the  Bible," 
grinned  Connor.  "  Shoot  ahead  and  let's 
get  at  the  real  dope." 

"Hush!" 

Without  raising  her  eyes,  she  brushed 
aside  the  hand  of  Connor  which  had  fallen 
on  the  side  of  the  ledger.  Her  own  took 
its  place,  ready  to  turn  the  page. 

"  In  the  beginning  there  was  a  man 
whose  name  was  John.  The  Lord  looked 
upon  John  and  saw  his  sins.  He  struck 
John  therefor.  First  He  took  two  daugh- 
ters from  John,  but  still  the  man  was  blind 
and  did  not  read  the  writing  of  his  Maker. 
And  God  struck  down  the  eldest  son  of 
John,  and  John  sorrowed,  but  did  not  un- 
derstand. Thereat,  all  in  a  day,  the  Lord 
took  from  John  his  wife  and  his  lands  and 
his  goods,  which  wrere  many  and  rich. 

"  Then  John  looked  about  him,  and  lo! 
he  was  alone. 

"In  the  streets  his  friends  forgot  him 
and  saw  not  his  passing.  The  sound  of  his 
own  footfall  was  lonely  in  his  house,  and 
he  was  left  alone  with  his  sins. 

"  So  he  knew  that  it  was  the  hand  of 
God  which  struck  him,  and  he  heard  a  voice 
which  said  in  the  night  to  him:  '  O  John, 
ye  who  have  been  too  much  with  the  world 
must  leave  it  and  go  into  the  wilderness.' 

"  Then  the  heart  of  John  smote  him  and 
he  prayed  God  to  send  him  not  out  alone, 
and  God  relented  and  told  him  to  go  forth 
and  take  with  him  three  simple  men. 

"  So  John  on  the  next  morning  called  to 
his  negro,  a  slave  who  was  all  that  remain- 
ed in  his  hands. 

" '  Abraham,'  he  said,  '  you  who  were 
a  slave  are  free.' 

"  Then  he  went  into  the  road  and  walked 
all  the  day  until  his  feet  bled.  He  rested 


by  the  side  of  the  road  and  one  came  who 
kneeled  before  him  and  washed  his  feet, 
and  John  saw  that  it  was  Abraham.  And 
Abraham  said:  '  I  was  bom  into  your  ser- 
vice and  I  can  only  die  out  of  it.' 

'  They  went  on  together  until  they  came 
to  three  robbers  fighting  with  one  strong 
man,  and  John  helped  this  man  and  drove 
away  the  robbers. 

'  Then  the  tall  man  began  to  laugh. 
'  They  would  have  robbed  me  because  I 
was  once  rich,'  he  said,  '  but  another  thief 
had  already  plundered  me,  and  they  have 
gotten  only  broken  heads  for  their  indus- 
try.' Then  John  was  sorry  for  the  fortune 
that  was  stolen. 

'  Not  I,'  said  the  tall  man,  '  but  I  am 
sorry  for  the  brother  I  lost  with  the  money.' 
Then  he  told  them  howr  his  own  brother  had 
cheated  him.  '  But/  he  said,  '  there  is  only 
one  way  to  beat  the  devil,  and  that  is  to 
laugh  at  him.' 

"  Now  John  saw  this  was  a  good  man, 
so  he  opened  his  heait  to  Luke,  which  was 
the  name  of  him  who  had  been  robbed. 
Then  Luke  fell  in  with  the  two  and  went  on 
with  them. 

"  They  came  to  a  city  filled  with  plague 
so  that  the  dead  were  buried  by  the  dying 
and  the  dog  howled  over  his  master  in  the 
street;  the  son  fled  from  the  father  and  the 
mother  left  her  child.  They  found  one  man 
who  tended  the  sick  out  of  charity  and  the 
labor  was  too  great  for  even  his  broad 
shoulders.  He  had  a  broad,  ugly  face,  but 
in  his  eye  was  a  clear  fire. 

" '  Brother,  what  is  your  name?'  said 
John,  and  the  man  answered  that  he  was 
called  Paul,  and  begged  them  for  the  sweet 
mercy  of  Christ  to  aid  him  in  his  labors. 

"  But  John  said:  '  Rise,  Paul,  and  follow 
me.' 

"  And  Paul  said:  '  How  can  I  follow  the 
living  when  the  dying  call  to  me?' 

"But  John  said:  'Nevertheless,  leave 
them,  for  these  are  carrion,  but  your  soul 
in  which  is  life  eternal  is  worth  all  these 
and  far  more.' 

"  Then  Paul  felt  the  power  of  John  and 
followed  him  and  took,  also,  his  gray  horses 
which  were  unlike  others,  and  of  his  serv- 
ants those  who  would  follow  him  for  love, 
and  in  wagons  he  put  much  wealth. 


THE    GARDEN    OF    EDEN.  927 

• 

;i  So  they  all  rode  en  as  a  mighty  caravan  forth  and  found  a  male  child  and  brought 

until  they  came,  at  the  side  of  the  road,  to  Jiim  to  the  valley  and  the  Uvo  said:  '  Where 

a  youth  lying  in  the  meadow  with  his  hands  was  the  child  found  and  what  is  its  name?' 

behind  his  head  whistling,  and  a  bird  hov-  And  Matthew  said:   '  It  was  found  in  the 

ering  above  him  repeated  the  same  note,  place  to  which  God  led  me  and  its  name 

They  spoke  to  him  and  he  told  them  that  hereafter  shall  be  David.' 

he  was  an  outcast  because  he  would  not  "  So  peace  was  on  the  valley,  and  David 

labor.  grew  tall  and  strong.    Then  Luke  died,  and 

"  •  The  world  is  too  pleasant  to  work  in.'  Paul  died  in  a  drift  of  snow  and  Matthew 

he  said,  and  whistled  again,  and  the  bird  grew  very  old  and  wrote  these  words  for 

above  him  made  answer.  the  eye  of  David." 

"  Then  John  said:  '  Here  is  a  soul  worth  The  smooth  running,  finely  made  letters 

all  of  ours.     Rise,  brother,  and  come  with  come  to  an  end,  the  narrative  was  taken  up 

us.'  in  fresher  ink  and  in  a  bold,  heavy  hand  of 

"  So   Matthew   rose   and   followed  him,  large  characters. 

and  he  was  the  third  and  last  man  to  join  "  One    day    Matthew   called    for   David 

John,  who  was  the  beginning.  and  said:  '  My  hands  are  cold,  whereby  I 

"  Then  they  came  to  a  valley  set  about  know  I  am  about  to  die.     As  I  lay  last 

with  walls  and  with  a  pleasant  river  run-  night  with  death  for  a  bedfellow  thoughts 

ning  through  it,  and  here  they  entered  and  came  to  me,  which   are  these:    We  have 

called  it  the  Garden  of  Eden  because  in  it  been  brother  and  father  and  son  to  one 

men  should  be  pure  of  heart  once  more,  another.     But  do  not  grieve  that  I  am 

And  they  built  their  houses  with  labor  and  gone.     I  inherit  a  place  of  peace,  but  you 

lived  in  quiet  and  the  horses  multiplied  and  shall  come  to  torment  unless  you  find  a 

the  Garden  blossomed  under  their  hands."  woman  in  the  world  and  bring  her  here  to 

Here  Ruth  marked  her  place  with  her  bear  children  to  you  and  be  your  wife.' 

finger  while  she  wiped  her  eyes.  "  Then  David  groaned  in  his  heart  and 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  this  babble  is  get-  he  said:   '  How  shall  I  know  her  when  I 

ting  you?"  growled  Ben  Connor.  find  her?' 

"  Please! "  she  whispered.     "  Don't  you  "  And  Matthew  said:  '  By  her  simplicity.' 

see  that  it's  beautiful?"  "  And  David  said:  '  There  may  be  many 

And  she  returned  to  the  book.  who  are  simple.' 

"And    Matthew    said:    'I    have    never 

known  such  a  woman.    But  when  you  see 

CHAPTER   XXXIII.  her  your  heart  will  rise  up  and  claim  her. 

THE  ROOM  OF  SILENCE.  Therefore,    within   five  years,   before  you 

are  grown  too  old,  go  out  and  find  this 

"f"T~lHElN     John     sickened     and     said:  woman  and  wed  her.' 

1       '  Bring  me   into    the   room   of  si-  "  And  on  that  day  Matthew  died,  and  a 

lence.'    So  they  brought  him  to  the  great  anguish  came  to  David.     The  days 

place  where  they  sat  each  day  to  converse  passed  heavily.    And  for  five  years  he  has 

with  God  in  the  holy  stillness  and  hear  His  waited." 

voice.  There    was    another    interval    of    blank 

"  Then  John  said:  '  I  am  about  to  de-  paper,  and  then  the  pen  had  been  taken  up 

part  from  among  you,  and  before  my  going  anew,  hurriedly,  and  driven  with  such  force 

I  put  this  command  on  you  that  you  find  and  haste  that  it  tore  the  paper-surface, 

in  the  world  a  mate  infant  too  young  to  "The  woman  is  here!" 

know  its  father  or  mother,  or  without  fa-  Her  fingers  stiffened  about  the  edges  of 

ther  and  mother  living.    Rear  that  child  to  the  book.    Raising  her  head,  she  looked  out 

manhood  in  the  valley,  for  even  as  I  depart  through  the  little  window  and  saw  the  tree 

so  will  you  all  do,  and  the  Garden  of  Eden  tops  down  the  hillside  brightening  against 

will  be  left  tenantless.'  the  red  of  the  dawn.     But  Connor  could 

'  So  when  John  was  dead  Matthew  went  not  see  her  face.    He  only  noted  the  place 


928  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

.•>_ 

at  which  she  had  stopped,  and  now  he  be-  pressed  her  hands  against  her  face.     He 

gan  to  laugh.  heard    her    murmuring:    "  What    have    I 

"  Can  you  beat  that?   That  poor  dub!"  done?   God  forgive  me!" 

She  turned  to  him,  slowly,  a  face  so  full  Connor  grew  angry.    It  was  no  time  for 

of  mute  anguish  that  the  gambler  stopped  trifling. 

his  laughter  to  gape  at  her.    Was  she  tak-  He  touched  her  arm:    "Come  on  out 
ing   this   seriously?     Was   this   the   Blue-  of  this,  Ruth.     If  you're  going  to  get  re- 
beard's  chamber  which  was  to  ruin  all  his  ligion,  try  it  later." 
work?  At  that  she  flung  away  and  faced  him, 

Not  that  he  perceived  what  was  going  on  and  what  he  saw  was  a  revelation  of  angry 

in  her  mind,  but  her  expression  made  him  scorn. 

aware,  'all  at  once,  of  the  morning-quiet.  "  Don't  touch  me,"  she  stammered  at 

Far  down  the  valley  a  Jhorse  neighed  and  fliim.     "  You  cheat!    Is  that  the  barbarian 

a  bird  swooping  past  the  window  cast  in  on  you  were  telling  me  about?    Is  that  the 

them  one  thrilling  phrase  of  music.     And  cruel,  selfish  fool  you  tried  to  make  me 

Connor  saw  the  girl  change  under  his  very  think  was  David  of  Eden?" 

eye.    She  was  looking  straight  at  him  with-  His  own  weapons  were  turning  against 

out  seeing  his  face  and  into  whatever  dis-  him,  but  he  retained  his  self-control, 

tance  her  glance  went  he  felt  that  he  could  "  I  won't  listen  to  you,  Ruth.    It's  this 

not  follow  her.    Here  at  the  very  threshold  \hush-stuff  that's  got  you.    It's  this  infernal 

of  success  the  old  ledger  was  proving  a  room.    It  makes  you  feel  that  the  fathead 

more  dangerous  enemy  than  David  him-  'has  actually  got  the  dope  from  God." 

self.    Connor  fumbled  for  words,  the  Open  "  How  do  you  know   that   God  hasn't 

Sesame  which  would  let  in  the  common  come  to  him  here?    At  least,  he's  had  the 

sense  of  the  everyday  world  upon  the  girl,  courage  and  the  faith  to  believe  it.     What 

But  the  very  fear  of  that  crisis  kept  him  faith  have  we?    I  know  your  heaven,  Ben 

dumb.    He  glanced  from  the  pale  hand  on  Connor.    It's  paved  with  dollar  bills.    And 

the  ledger  to  her  face,  and  it  seemed  to  him  mine,  too.     We've  come  sneaking  in  here 

that  beauty  had  fallen  upon  her  out  of  the  like  cowardly  thieves.    Oh,  I  hate  myself,  I 

book.  loathe  myself.     I've  stolen  his  heart,  and 

"  The  woman   is  here!     God   has  sent  what  have  I  to  give  him  in  exchange?   I'm 

her!"  not  even  worthy  to  love  him!    Barbarian? 

At  that  she  cried  out  faintly,  her  voice  He's  so  far  greater  and  finer  than  we  are 

trembling  with  self-scorn:  "  God  has  sent  'that  we  Aren't  worthy  to  look  in  his  face!" 

me — me!"  "  By  the  Lord!"  groaned  Connor.    "  Are 

"  The  heart  of  David  stood  up  and  beat  you  double-crossing  me?" 

in  his  throat  when  he  saw  her,"  went  on  "  Could    I    do    anything   better?     Who 

the  rough,  strong  writing.    "  She  passed  the  tempted  me  like  a  devil  and  brought  me 

gate.     Every  step  she  took  was  into  the  here?    Who  taught  me  to  play  the  misera- 

soul  of  David.     As  I  went  beside  her  the  ble  game  with  David?   You,  you,  you!" 

trees  grew  taller  and  the  sky  was  more  blue.  Perspiration    was    streaming    down    the 

"  She  has  passed  the  gate.     She  is  here,  white  face  of  Connor. 

She  is  mine!  "  Try  to  give  me  a  chance  and  listen  one 

"  What  am  I  that  she  should  be  mine?  minute,  Ruth.     But  for  God's  sake  don't 

God  has  sent  her  to  show  me  that  my  fly  off  the  handle  and  smash  everything 

strength  is  clumsy.     I  have  no  words  to  when  we're  next  door  to  winning.    Maybe 

fit  her.     When  I  look  into  her  eyes  I  see  I've  done  wrong.     I  $lon't  see  how.     I've 

her  soul;    my  vision   leaps   from   star   to  tried  to  give  this  David  a  chance  to  be 

star,  a  great  distance,  and  I  am  filled  with  happy 'the  way  any  other  man  would  want 

humility.    O  Father  in  Heaven,  having  led  to  be  happy.    Now  you  turn  on  me  because 

her  to  my  hand,  teach  me  to  give  her  hap-  he's  written  some  high-flying  chatter  in  a 

piness,  to  pouriher  spirit  full  of  content."  book!" 

She    closed    the    book    reverently    and  "  Because  I '  thought  he  was  a  selfish 

8  A 


THE  GARDEN  OF  EDEN. 


929 


sham,  and  now  I  see  that  he's  real.  He's 
humbled  himself  to  me — to  me!  I'm  not 
worthy  to  touch  his  feet!  And  you — 

"  Maybe  I'm  rotten.  I  don't  say  I'm  all 
I  should  be,  but  half  of  what  I've  done  has 
been  for  you.  The  minute  I  saw  you  at 
that  key  in  Lukin  I  knew  I  wanted  you. 
I've  gone  on  wanting  you  ever  since.  It's 
the  first  time  in  my  life — but  1  love  you, 
Ruth.  Give  me  one  more  chance.  Put 
this  thing  through  and  I'll  turn  over  the 
rest  of  my  life  to  fixing  you  up  so's  you'll 
be  .happy." 

She  watched  him  for  a  moment  incredu- 
lously; then  she  broke  into  'hysterical 
laughter. 

"  If  you  loved  me  could  you  have  made 
me  do  what  I've  done?  Love?  You?  But 
I  know  what  real  love  is.  It's  written  into 
that  book.  I've  heard  him  talk.  I'm  full 
of  his  voice,  of  his  face. 

•'  It's  the  only  fine  thing  about  me.  For 
the  rest,  we'-re  shams,  both  of  us — cheats — 
crooked — small,  sneaking  cheats!" 

She  stopped  with  a  cry  of  alarm;  the 
door  behind  her  stood  open  and  in  the  en- 
trance was  David  of  Eden.  In  the  back" 
ground  was  the  ugly,  grinning  face  of  Jo- 
seph. This  was  his  revenge. 

Connor  made  one  desperate  effort  to 
smile,  but  the  effort  failed  wretchedly, 
Neither  of  them  could  look  at  David;  they 
could  only  steal  glances  at  one  another  and 
see  their  guilt. 

"  David,  my  brother — "  began  the  gam- 
bler heavily. 

But  the  voice  of  the  master  broke  in: 
"  Oh  Abraham,  Abraham,  would  to  God 
that  I  had  listened!" 

He  stood  to  one  side,  and  made  a  sweep- 
ing gesture. 

"  Come  out,  and  bring  the  woman." 

They  shrank  past  him  and  stood  blinking 
in  the  light  of  the  newly  risen  sun.  Joseph 
was  hugging  himself  with  the  cold  and  his 
mute  delight.  The  master  closed  the  door 
and  faced  them  again. 

"  Even  in  the  Room  of  Silence! "  he  said 
slowly.  "  Was  it  not  enough  to  bring  sin 
into  the  Garden?  But  you  have  carried  it 
even  into  the  holy  place!" 

Connor  found  his  tongue.  The  fallen 
head  of  Ruth  told  him  that  there  was  no 

9  A 


help  to  be  looked  for  from  her,  and  the 
crisis  forced  him  into  a  certain  boisterous 
glibness  of  speech. 

"  Sin,  Brother  David?  What  sin?  Tofebe 
sure,  Ruth  was  too  curious.  She  went  into 
the  Room  of  Silence,  but  as  soon  as  I  knew 
she  was  there  I  went  to  fetch  her,  when — " 

He  had  even  cast  out  one  arm  in  a  ges- 
ture of  easy  persuasion,  and  now  it  was 
caught  at  the  wrist  hi  a  grip  that  burned 
through  the  flesh  to  the  bones.  Another 
hand  clutched  his  coat  at  the  throat.  He 
was  lifted  and  flung  back  against  the  wall 
by  a  strength  like  that  of  a  madman,  or  a 
wild  animal.  One  convulsive  effort  showed 
him  his  helplessness,  and  he  cried  out  more 
in  horror  than  fear.  Another  cry  answered 
him,  and  Ruth  strove  to  press  in  between, 
tearing  futilely  at  the  arms  of  David. 

A  moment  later  Connor  was  miraculous- 
ly freed.  He  found  David  a  long  pace 
away  and  Ruth  before  him,  her  arms  flung 
out  to  give  him  shelter  while  she  faced  the 
master  of  the  garden. 

"  He  is  saved,"  said  David,  "  and  you 
are  free.  Your  love  has  ransomed  him. 
What  price  has  he  paid  to  win  you  so  that 
you  will  even  risk  death  for  him?" 

"Oh,  David,"  sobbed  the  girl,  "don't 
you  see  I  only  came  between  you  to  keep 
you  from  murder?  Because  he  isn't 
worth  it!" 

But  the  master  of  the  Garden  was  laugh-* 
ing  in  a  way  that  made  Connor  look  about 
for  a  weapon  and  shrink  because  he  found 
none;  only  the  greedy  eyes  of  Joseph,  close 
by.  David  had  come  again  close  to  the 
girl;  he  even  took  both  her  hands  in  one  of 
his  and  slipped  his  arm  about  her.  To 
Connor  his  self-control  now  seemed  more 
terrible  than  that  one  outbreak  of  murder- 
ing passion. 

"  Still  lies?"  said  David.  "  Still  lies  to 
me?  Beautiful  Ruth — never  more  beauti- 
ful than  now,  even  when  you  lied  to  me 
with  your  eyes  and  your  smiles  and  your 
promises!  The  man  is  nothing.  He  came 
like  a  snake  to  me,  and  his  life  is  no  more 
worth  than  the  life  of  a  snake.  Let  him 
live,  let  him  die;  it  is  no  matter.  But  you, 
Ruth!  I  am  not  even  angered.  I  see  you 
already  from  a  great  distance,  a  beautiful, 
evil  thing  that  has  been  so  close  to  me. 


930 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


For  you  have  been  closer  to  me  than  you 
are  now  that  my  arm  is  around  you,  touch- 
.  ing  you  for  the  last  time,  holding  your 
warmth  and  your  tender  body,  keeping  both 
ytmr  hands,  which  are  smaller  and  softer 
than  the  hands  of  a  child.  But  mighty 
hands,  nevertheless. 

''They  have  held  the  heart  of  David, 
and  they  have  almost  thrown  his  soul  into 
eternal  hellfire.  Yet  you  have  been  closer 
to  me  than  you  are  now.  You  have  been  in 
my  heart  of  hearts.  And  I  take  you  from 
it  sadly — with  regret,  for  the  sin  of  loving 
you  has  been  sweet." 

She  had  been  sobbing  softly  all  this 
time,  but  now  she  mastered  herself  long 
enough  to  draw  back  a  little,  taking  his 
hands  with  a  desperate  eagerness,  as 
though  they  gave  her  a  hold  upon  his  mind. 

"  Give  me  one  minute  to  speak  out  what 
I  have  to  say.  Will  you  give  me  one  half 
minute,  David?" 

His  glance  rose  past  her,  higher,  until 
it  was  fixed  on  the  east,  and  as  he  stood 
there  with  his  head  far  back  Connor 
guessed  for  the  first  time  at  the  struggle 
which  was  going  on  within  him.  The  girl 
pressed  closer  to  him,  drawing  his  hands 
down  as  though  she  would  make  him  stoop 
to  her. 

"Look  at  me,  David!" 

"  I  see  your  face  clearly." 

"  Still,  look  at  me  for  the  one  last  time." 

"I  dare  not,  Ruth!" 

"  But  will  you  believe  me?" 

"  I  shall  try.  But  I  am  glad  to  hear  your 
voice,  for  the  last  time." 

"  I've  come  to  you  like  a  cheat,  David, 
and  I've  tried  to  win  you  in  order  to  steal 
the  horses  away,  but  I've  stayed  long 
enough  to  see  the  truth. 

"  If  everything  in  the  valley  were  of- 
fered me — the  horses  and  the  men — and 
everything  outside  of  the  valley,  without 
you,  I'd  throw  them  away.  I  don't  want 
them.  Oh,  if  prayers  could  make  you  be- 
lieve, you'd  believe  me  now;  because  I'm 
praying  to  you,  David. 

"  You  love  me,  David.  I  can  feel  you 
trembling,  and  I  love  you  more  than  I  ever 
dreamed  it  was  possible  to  love.  Let  me 
come  back  to  you.  I  don't  want  the  world 
or  anything  that's  in  it.  I  only  want  you, 


David — I  only  want  you!     Will  you  be- 
lieve me?" 

And  Connor  saw  David  of  Eden  sway 
with  the  violence  of  his  struggle. 

But  he  murmured  at  length,  as  one  in 
wonder: 

"  How  you  are  rooted  in  me,  Ruth! 
How  you  are  wound  into  my  life,  so  that 
it  is  like  tearing  out  my  heart  to  part  from 
you.  But  the  God  of  the  Garden  and 
John  and  Matthew  has  given  me  strength." 
He  stepped  back  from  her. 

"  You  are  free  to  go,  but  if  you  return 
the  doom  against  you  is  death  like  that  of 
any  wild  beast  that  steals  down  the  cliffs 
to  kill  in  my  fields.  Begone,  and  let  me  see 
your  face  no  more.  Joseph,  take  them  to 
the  gate." 

And  he  turned  his  back  with  a  slowness 
which  made  his  resolution  the  more  unmis- 
takable. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

CONNOR    MAKES   A    LAST    STAND. 

IT  was,  unquestionably,  a  tempting  of 
Providence,  but  Connor  was  almost  past 

caring.  '  Far  off  he  heard  the  neighing  of 
an  Eden  Gray;  Ruth,  with  her  bowed  head 
and  face  covered  in  her  hands,  was  before 
him,  sobbing;  and  all  that  he  had  come  so 
near  to  winning  and  yet  had  lost  rushed 
upon  the  mind  of  the  gambler.  He  hardly 
cared  now  whether  he  lived  or  died.  He 
called  to  the  master  of  the  Garden,  and 
David  whirled  on  him  with  a  livid  face. 
Connor  walked  into  the  reach  of  the  lion. 

"  I've  made  my  play,"  he  said  through 
his  teeth,  "  and  I  don't  holler  because  I've 
lost  the  big  stakes.  Now  I'm  going  to  give 
you  something  to  show  that  I'm  not  a  piker 
— some  free  advice.  Dave!" 

"  O  man  of  many  lies,"  said  David. 
"  Peace!  For  when  I  hear  you  there  is  a 
great  will  come  on  me  to  take  you  by  the 
throat  and  hear  your  life  go  out  with  a 
rattle." 

"  A  minute  ago,"  said  Connor  coolly 
enough,  "  I  was  scared,  and  I  admit  it,  but 
I'm  past  that  stage.  I've  lost  too  much 
to  care,  and  now  you're  going  to  hear  me 
out  to  the  last  damned  word!" 


THE    GARDEN   OF   EDEN. 


931 


"  God  of  Paul  and  Matthew,"  said  Da- 
vid, his  voice  broken  with  rage.  "  let  temp- 
tation be  far  from  me! " 

11  You  can  take  it  standing  or  sitting," 
>aid  Connor,  "  and  be  damned  to  you!'' 

The  blind  fury  sent  David  a  long  step 
nearer,  but  he  checked  himself  even  as  one 
hand  rose  toward  Connor. 

"  It  is  the  will  of  God  that  you  live  to  be 
punished  hereafter." 

••  Xo  matter  about  the  future.  I'm  chat- 
tering in  the  present.  I'm  going  to  come 
clean,  not  because  I'm  afraid  of  you,  but 
because  I'm  going  to  clear  up  the  girl.  The 
old  black-face,  Abe,  had  the  cold  dope,  well 
enough.  I  cf.me  to  crook  you  out  of  a  horse, 
Dave,  my  boy,  and  I  did  it.  But  after  I'd 
got  away  with  the  goods  I  tried  to  play 
hog,  and  I  came  back  for  the  rest  of  the 
horses." 

He  paused;  but  David  showed  no  emo- 
tion. 

••  You  take  the  punishment  very  well," 
admitted  Connor.  "  There's  a  touch  of 
sporting  blood  in  you,  but  the  trouble  is 
that  the  good  in  you  has  never  had  a  fair 
chance  to  come  to  the  top.  I  came  back, 
and  I  brought  Ruth  with  me. 

'•I'll  tell  you  about  her.  She's  meant 
to  be  an  honest-to-God  woman — the  kind 
that  keeps  men  clean — she's  meant  for  the 
big-time  stuff.  And  where  did  I  find  her? 
In  a  jay  town  punching  a  telegraph  key,  It 
was  all  wrong. 

"  She  was  made  to  spend  a  hundred 
thousand  a  year.  Everything  that  money 
buys  means  a  lot  to  her.  I  saw  that  right 
away.  I  liked  her.  I  did  more  than  like 
her;  I  loved  her.  That  makes  you  flinch 
under  the  whip,  does  it?  I  don't  say  I'm 
worthy  of  her,  but  I'm  as  near  to  her  as 
you  are. 

"  I  admit  I  played  a  rotten  part.  I 
went  to  this  girl,  all  starved  the  way  she 
was  for  the  velvet  touch.  I  laid  my  propo- 
sition before  her.  She  was  to  come  up  here 
and  bamboozle  you.  She  was  to  knock  your 
eye  out  and  get  you  clear  of  the  valley 
with  the  horses.  Then  I  was  going  to  run 
those  horses  on  the  tracks  and  make  a  barrel 
of  coin  for  all  of  us. 

•  You'd  think  she'd  take  on  a  scheme 
like  that  right  away;  but  she  didn't.  She 


fought  to  keep  from  going  crooked  until  I 
showed  her  it  was  as  much  to  your  advan- 
tage as  it  was  to  ours.  Then  she  decided 
to  come,  and  she  came.  I  worked  my  stall 
and  she  worked  hers,  and  she  got  into  the 
valley. 

"  But  this  voice  of  yours  in  the  Room 
of  Silence — why  didn't  it  put  you  wise  to 
my  game?  Well,  David,  I'll  tell  you  why. 
The  voice  is  the  bunk.  It's  your  own 
thoughts.  It's  your  own  hunches.  The 
god  you've  been  worshiping  up  here  is 
yourself,  and  in  the  end  you're  going  to  pay 
hell  for  doing  it. 

••  Well,  here's  the  girl  in  the  Garden,  and 
everything  going  smooth.  We  have  you, 
and  she's  about  to  take  you  out  and  show 
you  how  to  be  happy  in  the  world.  But 
then  she  has  to  go  into  your  secret  room. 
That's  the  woman  of  it.  You  blame  her? 
Why,  you  infernal  blockhead,  you've  been 
making  love  to  her  like  God  Almighty 
speaking  out  of  a  cloud  of  fire!  How  could 
she  hear  your  line  of  chatter  without  want- 
ing to  find  out  the  secrets  that  made  you 
the  nut  you  are? 

u  Well,  we  went  in,  and  we  found  out. 
We  found  out  what?  Enough  to  make  the 
girl  see  that  you're  '  noble,'  as  she  calls  it. 
Enough  to  make  me  see  that  you're  a  simp. 
You've  been  chasing  bubbles  all  your  life. 
You're  all  wrong  from  the  first. 

"  Those  first  four  birds  who  started  the 
Garden,  who  were  they?  There  was  John, 
a  rich  fellow  who'd  hit  the  high  spots,  had 
his  life  messed  up,  and  was  ready  to  quit. 
He'd  lived  enough.  Then  there  was  Luke, 
a  gent  who'd  been  double-crossed  and  was 
sore  at  the  world  on  general  principles. 

"  Paul  would  have  been  a  full-sized  saint 
in  the  old  days.  He  was  never  meant  to 
live  the  way  other  men  have  to  live.  And 
finally  there's  a  guy  who  lies  in  the  grass 
and  whistles  to  a  bird — Matthew.  A  poet 
— and  all  poets  are  nuts. 

"  Well,  all  those  fellows  were  tired  of  the 
world — fed  up  with  it.  Boil  them  down, 
and  they  come  to  this:  they  thought  more 
about  the  welfare  of  their  souls  than  they 
did  about  the  world.  Was  that  square? 
It  wasn't!  They  left  the  mothers  and  fa- 
thers, the  brothers  and  sisters,  the  friends, 
everything  that  had  brought  them  into  the 


932 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 


world  and  raised  'em.  They  go  off  to  take 
care  of  themselves. 

"  That  wasn't  bad  enough  for  'em — they 
had  to  go  out  and  pluck  you  and  bring 
you  up  with  the  same  rotten  hunches. 
Davie,  my  boy,  d'you  think  a  man  is  made 
to  live  by  himself? 

"  You  haven't  got  fed  up  with  the  world; 
you're  no  retired  high  liver;  you  haven't 
had  a  chance  to  get  double-crossed  more 
than  once;  you're  not  a  crazy  poet;  and 
you're  a  hell  of  a  long  ways  from  being  a 
martyr. 

"  I'll  tell  you  what  you  are.  You're  a 
certain  number  of  pounds  of  husky  muscle 
and  bone  going  to  waste  up  here  in  the 
mountains.  You've  been  alone  so  much 
that  you've  got  to  thinking  that  your  own 
hunches  come  from  God,  and  that  'd  spoil 
any  man. 

"Live  alone?  Bah!  You've  had  more 
concentrated  since  Ruth  came  into  this  val- 
ley than  you've  ever  had  before  or  you'll 
ever  have  again. 

"  Right  now  you're  breaking  your  heart 
to  take  her  in  your  arms  and  tell  her  to 
stop  crying,  but  your  pride  won't  let  you. 

"  You  tried  to  make  yourself  a  mystery 
with  your  room  of  silence  and  all  that 
bunk.  But  no  woman  can  stand  a  mystery. 
They  all  got  to  read  their  husband's  letters. 
You  try  to  bluff  her  with  a  lot  of  fancy 
words  and  partly  scare  her.  It's  fear  that 
sent  the  four  men  up  here  in  the  first 
place — fear  of  the  world. 

"  And  they've  lived  by  fear.  They 
scared  a  lot  of  poor  black-faces  into  coming 
with  them  for  the  sake  of  their  souls,  they 
said.  And  they  kept  them  here  the  same 
way.  And  they've  kept  you  here  by  telling 
you  that  you'd  be  damned  if  you  went  over 
the  mountains. 

"  And  you  still  keep  the  negroes  here 
the  same  way.  Do  you  think  they  stay 
because  they  love  you?  Give  them  a 
chance  and  see  if  they  won't  pack  up  and 
beat  it  for  their  old  homes. 

"  Now,  show  me  that  you're  a  man  and 
not  a  fatheaded  bluff.  Be  a  man  and  ad- 
mit that  what  you  call  the  Voice  is  just 
your  pride.  Be  a  man  and  take  that  girl 
in  your  arms  and  tell  her  you  love  her. 
I've  made  a  mess  of  things;  I've  ruined  her 


life,  and  I  want  to  see  you  give  her  a 
chance  to  be  happy. 

"  Because  she's  not  the  kind  to  love 
more  than  one  man  if  she  lives  to  be  a 
thousand.  Now,  David  Eden,  step  out  and 
give  yourself  a  chance!" 

It  had  been  a  gallant  last  stand  on  the 
part  of  Connor.  But  he  was  beaten  before 
he  finished,  and  he  knew  it. 

"  Are  you  done?"  said  David. 

"  I'm  through,  fast  enough.  It's  up  to 
you!" 

"  Joseph*  take  the  man  and  his  woman 
out  of  the  Garden  of  Eden." 

The  last  thing  that  Connor  ever  saw  of 
David  Eden  was  his  back  as  he  closed  the 
door  of  the  Room  of  Silence  upon  himself. 
The  gambler  went  to  Ruth.  She  was  dry- 
eyed  by  this  time,  and  there  was  a  peculiar 
blankness  in  her  expression  that  went  to 
his  heart. 

Secretly  he  had  hoped  that  his  harangue 
to  David  would  also  be  a  harangue  to  the 
girl  and  make  her  see  through  the  master 
of  the  Garden;  but  that  hope  disappeared 
at  once. 

He  stayed  a  little  behind  her  when  they 
were  conducted  out  of  the  patio  by  the 
grinning  Joseph.  He  helped  her  gently  to 
her  horse,  the  old  gray  gelding,  and  when 
he  was  in  place  on  his  own  horse,  with  the 
mule  pack  behind  him,  they  started  for  the 
gate. 

She  had  not  spoken  since  they  started. 
At  the  gate  she  moved  as  if  to  turn  and 
look  back,  but  controlled  the  impulse  and 
bowed  her  head  once  more.  Joseph  came 
beside  the  gambler  and  stretched  out  his 
great  palm.  In  the  center  of  it  was  the 
little  ivory  ape's  head  which  had  bought 
Connor  his  entrance  into  the  valley  and  had 
won  the  hatred  of  the  big  negro,  and  had, 
eventually,  ruined  all  his  plans. 

"  It  was  given  freely,"  grinned  Joseph, 
"  and  it  is  freelv  returned." 

"  Very  well." 

Connor  took  it  and  hurled  it  out  of  sight 
along  the  bowlders  beyond  the  gate.  The 
last  thing  that  he  saw  of  the  Garden  of 
Eden  and  its  men  was  that  broad,  apelike 
grin  of  Joseph,  and  then  he  hurried  his 
horse  to  overtake  Ruth,  whose  gelding  had 
been  plodding  steadily  along  the  ravine. 


THE   GARDEN   OF   EDEX. 


933 


He  attempted  for  the  first  time  to  speak 
to  her. 

"  Only  a  quitter  tries  to  make  up  for  the 
harm  he's  done  by  apologizing.  But  I've 
got  to  tell  you  the  one  thing  in  my  life  I 
most  regret.  It  isn't  tricking  David  of 
Eden,  but  it's  doing  what  I've  done  to  you. 
Will  you  believe  me  when  I  say  that  I'd 
give  a  lot  to  undo  what  I've  done?" 

She  only  raised  her  hand  to  check  him 
and  ventured  a  faint  smile  of  reassurance. 
It  was  the  smile  that  hurt  Qonnor  to  the 
quick. 

They  left  the  ravine.  They  toiled  slow- 
ly up  the  difficult  trail,  and  even  when 
they  had  reached  such  an  altitude  that  the 
floor  of  the  valley  of  the  Garden  was  un- 
rolling behind  them  the  girl  never  once 
•moved  to  look  back. 

-So,"  thought  Connor,  "  she'll  go 
through  the  rest  of  her  life  with  her  head 
down,  watching  the  ground  in  front  of  her. 
And  this  is  my  work." 

He  was  not  a  sentimentalist,  but  a  lump 
was  forming  in  his  throat  when,  at  the  very 
crest  of  the  mountain,  the  girl  turned  sud- 
denly in  her  saddle  and  stopped  the  gray. 

"  Only  makes  it  worse  to  stay  here," 
muttered  Connor.  "  Come  on,  Ruth." 

But  she  seemed  not  to  hear  him,  and 
there  was  something  in  her  smile  that  kept 
him  from  speaking  again. 


CHAPTER   XXXV. 

THE  NEGROES  SIXG. 

THE  Room  of  Silence  had  become  to 
David  Eden  a  chamber  of  horror. 
The  four  chairs  around  him,  which 
had  hitherto  seemed  filled  with  the  ghosts  of 
the  four  first  masters  of  the  Garden,  were 
now  empty  to  his  imagination.  In  this  place 
where  he  had  so  often  found  unfailing  con- 
solation, unfailing  counsel,  he  was  now  bur-, 
dened  by  the  squat,  heavy  walls,  and  the 
low  ceiling.  It  was  like  a  prison  to  him. 

For  all  his  certainty  was  gone.  "  You've 
made  yourself  your  God,"  the  gambler  had 
said.  "  Fear  made  the  Garden  of  Eden, 
fear  keeps  the  men  in  it.  Do  you  think 
the  negroes  stay  for  love  of  you?" 

Benjamin  had  proved  a  sinner,  no  doubt, 


but  there  had  been  a  ring  of  conviction  in 
his  words  that  remained  in  the  mind  of 
David.  How  could  he  tell  that  the  man  was 
not  right?  Certainly,  now  that  he  had 
once  doubted  the  wisdom  of  that  silent 
Voice,  the  mystery  was  gone.  The  room 
was  empty;  the  holiness  had  departed  from 
the  Garden  of  Eden  with  the  departing 
of  Ruth. 

He  found  himself  avoiding  the  thought  of 
her,  for  whenever  her  image  rose  before  him 
it  was  torture. 

He  dared  not  even  inquire  into  the  de- 
pression which  weighed  down  his  spirits, 
for  he  knew  that  the  loss  of  the  girl  was 
the  secret  of  it  all. 

One  thing  at  least  was  certain:  the  strong, 
calming  voice  which  he  had  so  often  heard 
in  the  Room  of  Silence,  no  longer  dwelt 
there,  and  with  that  in  mind  he  rose  and 
went  into  the  patio. 

In  a  corner,  screened  by  a  climbing  vine, 
hung  a  large  bell  which  had  only  been  rung 
four  times  in  the  history  of  the  Garden  of 
Eden,  and  each  time  it  was  for  the  death 
of  the  master.  David  tore  the  green  away 
and  struck  the  bell.  The  brazen  voice 
crowded  the  patio  and  pealed  far  away,  and 
presently  the  negroes  came.  They  came 
in  wild-eyed  haste,  and  when  they  saw 
David  alive  before  them  they  stared  at 
him  as  if  at  a  ghost. 

"  As  it  was  in  the  beginning,"  said  David 
when  the  circle  had  been  formed  and 
hushed,  >c  death  follows  sin.  Sin  has  come 
into  the  Garden  of  Eden  and  the  voice  of 
God  has  died  out  of  it.  Therefore  the  thing 
for  which  you  have  lived  here  so  long 
is  gone.  If  for  love  of  David,  you  wish  to 
stay,  remain;  but  if  your  hearts  go  back 
to  your  old  homes,  return  to  them.  The 
wagons  and  the  oxen  are  yours.  All  the 
furnishing  of  the  houses  are  yours.  There 
is  also  a  large  store  of  money  in  my  chest 
which  Elijah  shall  divide  justly  among  you. 
And  on  your  journey  Elijah  shall  lead  you, 
if  you  go  forth,  for  he  is  a  just  man  and 
fit  to  lead  others.  Do  not  answer  now,  but 
return  to  your  house  and  speak  to  one  an- 
other. Afterward,  send  one  man.  If  you 
stay  in  the  Garden  he  shall  tell  me.  If 
you  depart  I  shall  bid  you  farewell  through 
him.  Begone!" 


934 


ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY, 


They  went  out  soft-footed,  as  though 
the  master  of  the  Garden  had  turned  into 
an  animal  liable  to  spring  on  them  from  be- 
hind. He  smiled  as  he  watched  them. 
What  children  they  were,  in  spite  of  their 
age?  Without  his  orders,  how  could  they 
be  directed? 

He  began  to  pace  up  and  down  the  patio, 
after  a  time,  rather  impatiently.  No  doubt 
the  foolish  old  men  were  holding  forth  at 
great  length.  They  were  appointing  the 
spokesman,  and  they  were  framing  the 
speech  which  he  would  make  to  David  tell- 
ing of  their  devotion  to  him,  whether  the 
spirit  was  gone  or  remained.  They  would 
remain;  and  Benjamin's  prophecy  had  been 
that  of  a  spiteful  fool.  Yet  even  if  they 
stayed,  how  empty  the  valley  would  be — 
how  hollow  of  all  pleasure! 

It  was  at  this  point  in  his  thoughts  that 
he  heard  a  sound  of  singing  down  the  hill- 
side from  the  house  of  the  servants — first  a 
single,  thin,  trembling  voice  to  which  others 
were  added  until  the  song  was  heartened 
and  grew  full  and  strong.  It  was  a  song 
which  David  had  never  heard  before.  It 
rang  and  swung  with  a  peculiarly  happy 
rltythm,  growing  shriller  as  the  old  men 
seemed  to  gather  their  enthusiasm.  The 
words,  sung  in  a  thick  dialect,  were  stranger 
to  David  than  the  tune,  but  as  nearly  as 
ihe  could  make  out  the  song  ran  as  follows: 

"  Oh,  Jo,  come  back  from  the  cold  and  the 

stars 
For  the  cows  they  has  come  to  the  pasture 

bars, 
And   the   little  game  chicken's   beginning  to 

crow: 
Come  back  to  us,  Jo ;  come  back  to  us,  Jo ! 

"  He  was  walkin'  in  the  gyarden  in  the  cool 

o'  the  day 
When  He  seen  my  pickaninny  in  the  clover 

blossoms  play. 

"  He  was  walkin'  in  the  gyarden  an'  the  dew 

was  on  His  feet 
When  He  seen  my  pickaninny  so  little  an' 

sweet. 

"  They  was  flowers  in  the  gyarden,  roses,  an' 

such, 
But  the  roses  an'  the  pansies,  they  didn't  count 

for  much. 

"  An'  He  left  the  clover  blossoms  fo'  the  bees 

the  next  day 
An'  the  roses  an'  the  pansies.  but  He  took  Jo 

away. 


"Oh,   darkies   rock   yo'   cradles,   an'    darkies 

sing  yo'  song. 
For  He  walked  in  the  gyarden  an'  He  took  Jo 

along. 

"Oh,  Jo,  come  back  from  the  cold  and  the 

stars 
For  the  cows  they  has 'come  to  the  pasture 

bars. 
And  the  little  game  chicken  has  started  to 

crow: 
Come  back  to  us,  Jo;  come  back  to  us,  Jo!" 

aft 

He  knew  their  voices  and  he  knew  their 
songs,  but  never  had  David  heard  his  ser- 
vants sing  as  they  sang  this  song.  Their 
hymns  Were  strong  and  pleasant  to  the 
ear,  but  in  this  old  tune  there  was  a  melody 
and  a  lilt  that  brought  a  lump  in  his  throat. 
And  there  was  a  heart  to  their  singing,  so 
that  he  almost  saw  them  swaying  their 
shoulders  to  the  melody. 

It  was  the  writing  on  the  wall  for  David. 

Out  of  that  song  he  built  a  picture  of 
their  old  lives,  the  hot  sunshine,  the  dust, 
and  all  the  things  which  Matthew  had  told 
him  of  the  slaves  and  their  ways  before  the 
time  of  the  making  of  the  Garden. 

He  waited,  then,  either  for  their  messen- 
ger or  for  another  song;  but  he  neither  saw 
the  one  nor  heard  the  other  for  a  consider- 
able time.  An  angry  pride  sustained  him 
in  the  meantime,  in  the  face  of  a  life  alone 
in  the  Garden.  Far  off,  he  heard  the  neigh 
of  the  grays  in  the  meadow  near  the  gate, 
and  then  the  clarion  clear  answer  of  Glani 
near  the  house.  He  was  grateful  for  that 
sound.  All  men,  it  seemed,  were  traitors 
to  him.  Let  them  go.  He  would  remain 
contented  with  the  Eden  grays.  They 
would  come  and  go  with  him  like  human 
companions.  Better  the  noble  head  of 
Glani  near  him  than  the  treacherous  cun- 
ning of  Benjamin!  He  accepted  his  fate, 
then,  not  with  calm  resignation,  but  with 
fierce  anger  against  Connor,  who  had 
brought  this  ruin  on  him,  and  against  the 
negroes  who  were  preparing  to  desert  him. 

He  could  hear  plainly  the  creaking  of 
the  great  wains  as  the  oxen  were  yoked 
to  them  and  they  were  dragged  ,into  posi- 
tion to  receive  the  burdens  oc  the  property 
they  were  to  take  with  them  into  die  outer- 
world.  And,  in  the  meantime,  he  paced 
through  the  patio  in  one  of  those  silent 
passions  which  eat  at  the  heart  of  a  man. 


THE    GARDEN    OF   EDEN. 


935 


He  was  not  aware  of  the  entrance  of 
Elijah.  When  he  saw  the  old  negro,  Elijah 
had  fallen  on  his  knees  near  the  entrance 
to  the  patio,  and  every  line  of  his  time-dried 
body  expressed  the  terror  of  the  bearer  of 
bad  tidings.  David  looked  at  him  for  a 
moment  in  silent  rage. 

"  Do  you  think,  Elijah,"  he  said  at  last, 
••  that  I  shall  be  so  grieved  to  know  that 
you  and  the  others  will  leave  me  and  the 
Garden  of  Eden?  No,  no!  For  I  shall  be 
happier  alone.  Therefore,  speak  and  be 
done!" 

••  Timeh — "  began  the  old  man  faintly. 

"  You  have  done  that  last  duty,  then, 
Elijah?  Timeh  is  no  longer  alive?" 

"  The  day  is  still  new,  David.  Twice  I 
went  to  Timeh,  but  each  time  when  I  was 
about  to  lead  her  away,  the  neighing  of 
Juri  troubled  me  and  my  heart  failed." 

"But  the  third  time  you  remembered 
my  order?" 

"  But  the  third  time — there  was  no  third 
time.  When  the  bell  sounded  we  gathered. 
Kven  the  watchers  by  the  gates — Jacob  and 
Isaac — came  and  the  gate  was  left  unguard- 
ed— Timeh  was  in  the  pasture  near  the 
gate  with  Juri — and — " 

"  They  are  gone!  They  have  passed 
•  through  the  gate!  Call  Zacharias  and  Jo- 
seph. Let  them  mount  and  follow  and 
bring  Juri  back  with  the  foal!" 

"  Oh,  David,  my  master— 

"  What  is  it  now,  Elijah,  old  stammerer? 
Of  all  my  servants  none  has  cost  me  so 
much  pain;  to  none  shall  I  say  farewell  with 
so  little  regret.  What  is  it  now?  Why 
do  you  not  rise  and  call  them  as  I  bid  you? 
Do  you  think  you  are  free  before  you  pass 
the  gates?" 

••  David,  there  are  no  horses  to  follow 
Juri!" 

"What!" 

-  The  God  of  John  and  Paul  give  me 
strength  to  tell  and  give  you  strength  to 
hear  me  in  patience!  When  you  had  spok- 
en, and  the  servants  went  back  to  speak 
of  the  strange  things  you  had  said,  some  of 
them  spoke  of  the  old  days  before  they 
heard  the  call  and  followed  to  the  Garden, 
and  then  a  song  was  raised  beginning  with 
Zacharias — " 

"Zacharias!"  echoed  David,  softly  and 


fiercely.    "  Him  whom  I  have  favored  above 
the  others!" 

"But  while  the  others  sang,  I  heard  a 
neighing  near  the  gate  and  I  remembered 
your  order  and  your  judgment  of  Timeh, 
and  I  went  sorrowfully  to  fulfill  your  will. 
But  near  the  gate  I  saw  the  meadow  empty 
of  the  horses,  and  while  I  stood  wondering, 
I  heard  a  chorus  of  neighing  beyond  the 
gate.  There  was  a  great  answer  just  be- 
hind me,  and  I  turned  and  saw  Glani  rac- 
ing at  full  speed.  I  called  to  him,  but  he 
did  not  hear  and  went  on,  straight  through 
the  pillars  of  the  gate,  and  disappeared  in 
the  ravine  beyond.  Then  I  ran  to  the  gate 
and  looked  out,  but  the  horses  were  gone 
from  sight — they  have  left  the  Garden — •• 
they  are  free — " 

"  And  happy! "  said  David  in  a  terrible 
voice.  "  They,  too,  have  only  been  held  by 
fear  and  never  by  love.  Let  them  go.  Let 
all  go  which  is  kept  here  by  fear.  Why 
should  I  care?  I  am  enough  by  myself. 
When  all  is  gone  and  I  am  alone  the  Voice 
shall  return  and  be  my  companion.  It  is 
well.  Let  every  living  thing  depart.  David 
is  enough  unto  himself.  Go,  Elijah!  And 
yet  pause  before  you  go!" 

He  went  into  his.  room  and  came  out 
bearing  the  heavy  chest  of  money,  which  he 
carried  to  the  gate. 

"  Go  to  your  brothers  and  bid  them  come 
for  the  money.  It  will  make  them  rich 
enough  in  the  world  beyond  the  mountains, 
but  to  me  there  is  need  of  no  money. 
Silence  and  peace  is  my  wish.  Go,  and  let 
me  hear  their  voices  no  more,  let  me  not 
see  one  face.  Ingrates,  fools,  and  traitors! 
Let  them  find  their  old  places;  I  have  no 
regret.  Begone!" 

And  Elijah,  as  one  under  the  shadow 
of  a  .raised  whip,  skulked  from  the  patio 
and  was  gone. 


CHAPTER   XXXVI. 

HUMILITY. 

THE  last  quiet  began  for  David.    He 
had  heard  the  sounds  of  departure. 
He  had  heard  the  rumble  of  the  ox- 
wains  begin  and  go  slowly  toward  the  gate 
with  never  the  sound  of  a  human  voice, 


936  ARGOSY-ALLSTORY   WEEKLY. 

and  he  pictured,  with  a  grim  satisfaction,  remembered  what  had  happened  and  made 

the    downcast   faces   and    the    frightened,  himself  relax. 

guilty  glances,  as  his  servants  fled,  conscious  There  was  a  great   dread  before  him. 

that  they  were  betraying  their  master.    It  Finally  he  realized  that  it  was  the  coming 

filled  him  with  a  sort  of  sulky  content  which  of  the  night,  and  he  went  into  the  Room 

was  more  painful  than  sorrow.    But  before  of  Silence  for  the  last  time  to  find  consola- 

the  sound  of  the  wagons  died  out  the  wind  tion.     The  book  of  Matthew  had  always 

blew  back  from  the  gate  of  the  Garden  a  been  a  means  of  bringing  the  consolation 

thin,  joyous  chorus  of  singing  voices.    They  and  counsel   of  the  Voice,   but   when  he 

were  leaving  him  with  songs!  opened  the  book  he  could  only  think  of  the 

He  was  incredulous  for  a  time.    He  felt,  girl,  as  she  must  have  leaned  above  it.    How 

first,  a  great  regret  that  he  had  let  them  had  she  read?     With  a  smile  of  mockery 

go.     Then,   in  an  overwhelming  wave  of  or  with  tears?     He  closed  the  book;   but 

righteousness,  he  determined  to  dismiss  them  still  she  was  with  him.    It  seemed  that  when 

from  his  mind.    They  were  gone;  but  worse  he  turned  in  the  chair  he  must  find  her 

still,  the  horses  were  gone,  and  the  valley  waiting  behind  him  and  he  found  himself 

around  him  was  empty!     He  remembered  growing  tense  with  expectation,  his  heart 

the  dying  prophecy  of  Abraham,  now,  as  beating  rapidly. 

the  stern  Elijah  had  repeated  it.    He  had  Out  of  the  Room  of  Silence  he  fled  as  if 

let  the  world  into  the  Garden,  and  the  tide  a  curse  lived  in  it,  and  without  following 

of  the  world's  life,  receding,'  would  take  any  conscious  direction,   he  went   to   the 

all  the  life  of  the  Garden  away  beyond  the  room  of  Ruth, 

mountains  among  other  men.  The  fragrance  had  left  the  wild  flowers, 

The  feeling  that  Connor  had  been  right  and  the  great  golden  blossoms  at  the  win- 
beset  him:  that  the  four  first  masters  had  dow  hung  thin  and  limp,  the  bell  lips  hang- 
been  wrong,  and  that  they  had  raised  David  ing  close  together,  the  color  faded  to  a 
in  error.  Yet  his  pride  still  upheld  him.  dim  yellow.  The  green  things  must  be 

That  day  he  went  resolutely  about  the  taken  away  before  they  molded.    He  raised 

routine.    He  was  not  hungry,  but  when  the  his  hand   to   tear  down  the  transplanted 

time  came  he  went  into  the  big  kitchen  and  vine,  but  his  fingers  fell  away  from  it.    To 

prepared  food.     It  was  a  place  of  much  remove  it  was  to  destroy  the  last  trace  of 

noise.    The  great  copper  kettles  chimed  and  her.     She  had  seen  these  flowers;  on  ac- 

murmured  whenever  he  touched  them,  and  count  of  them  she  had  smiled  at  him  with 

they  spoke  to  him  of  the  servants  who  were  tears  of  happiness  in  her  eyes.     The  skin 

gone.     Half  of  his  bitterness  had  already  of  the  mountain  lion  on  the  floor  was  still 

left  him  and  he  could  remember  those  days  rumpled  where  her  foot  had  fallen,  and  he 

in  his  childhood  when  Abraham  had  told  could  see  the  indistinct,  outline  where  the 

him  tales,  and  Zacharias  had  taught  him  heel  of  her  shoe  had  pressed, 

how  to  ride  at  the  price  of  many  a  tumble  He  avoided  that  place  when  he  stepped 

from  the  lofty  back  of  the  gentle  old  mare,  back,  and  turning,  he  saw  her  bed.     The 

Yet  he  set  the  food  on  the  table  in  the  patio  dappled  deerskin  lay  crumpled  back  where 

and  ate  it  with  steady  resolution.     Then  her  hand  had  tossed  it  as  she  rose  that 

he  returned  to  the  big  kitchen  and  cleansed  morning,  and  in  the  blankets  was  the  dis- 

the  dishes.  tinct  outline  of  her  body.    He  knew  where 

It  was  the  late  afternoon,  now,  the  time  her  body  had  pressed,  and  there  was  the 

when  the  sunlight  becomes  yellow  and  loses  hollow  made  by  her  head  in  the  pillow, 

its  heat,  and  the  heavy  blue  shadow  sloped  Something  snapped  in  the  heart  of  David, 

across  the  patio.    A  quiet  time.    Now  and  The  sustaining  pride  which  had  kept  his 

again  he  found  that  he  was  tense  with  wait-  head  high  all  day  slipped  from  him  like 

ing  for  sounds  in  the  wind  of  the  servants  the  strength  of  the  runner  when  he  crosses 

returning  for  the  night  from  the  fields,  and  the  mark.    David  fell  upon  his  knees  and 

the  shrill  whinny  of  the  colts  coming  back  buried  his  face  where  her  head  had  lain, 

from  the  pastures  to  the  paddocks.    But  he  and  his  arms  curved  as  though  around  her 


THE  GARDEN"  OF  EDEN. 


937 


body.  Connor  had  been  right.  He  had 
made  himself  his  god,  and  this  was  the  pun- 
ishment. The  mildness  of  a  new  humility 
came  to  him  in  the  agony  of  his  grief. 
He  found  that  he  could  pray,  not  the  proud 
prayers  of  the  old  days  when  David  talked 
as  an  equal  to  the  voice,  but  that  most  an- 
cient prayer  of  sinners: 

"  O  Lord,  I  believe.     Help  Thou  mine 
unbelief!" 

And  the  moment  the  whisper  had  passed 
his  lips  there  was  a  blessed  relief  from  pain. 
There  was  a  sound  at  the  window,  and  turn- 
ing to  it,  he  saw  the  head  and  the  arched 
neck  of  Glani  against  the  red  of  the  sunset— 
Glani  looking  at  him  with  pricked  ears.  He 
went  to  the  stallion,  incredulous,  with  steps 
as  short  as  a  child  which  is  afraid,  and  at 
his  coming  Glani  whinnied  softly.  At 
that  the  last  of  David's  pride  fell  from" 
him.  He  cast  his  arms  around  the  neck 
of  the  stallion  and  wept  with  deep  sobs 
that  tore  his  throat,  and  under  the  grip  of 
his  arms  he  felt  the  stallion  trembling.  He 
was  calmer,  at  length,  and  he  climbed 
through  the  window  and  stood  beside  Glani 
under  the  brilliant  sunset  sky. 

•  And  the  others,  O  Glani,"  he  said. 
"  Have  they  returned  likewise?  Timeh 
shall  live.  I,  who  have  judged  others  so 
often,  have  been  myself  judged  and  found 
wanting.  Timeh  shall  live.  What  am  I 
that  I  should  speak  of  the  life  or  the  death 
of  so  much  as  the  last  bird  in  the  trees? 
But  have  they  all  returned,  all  my  horses?" 

He  whistled  that  call  which  every  gray 
knew  as  a  rallying  sound,  a  call  that  would 
bring  them  at  a  dead  gallop  with  answer- 
ing neighs.  But  when  the  thin  sound  of 
the  whistle  died  out  there  was  no  reply. 
Only  Glani  had  moved  away  and  was  look- 
ing back  to  David  as  if  he  bid  the  master 
follow. 

"  Is  it  so,  Glani?"  said  the  master. 
"  They  have  not  come  back,  but  you  have 
returned  to  lead  me  to  them?  The  woman, 
the  man,  the  servants,  and  the  horses.  But 
we  shall  leave  the  valley,  walking  together. 
Let  the  horses  go,  and  the  man  and  the 
woman  and  the  servants;  but  we  shall  go 
forth  together  and  find  the  world  beyond 
the  mountains." 

(The 


And  with  his  hand  tangled  in  the  mane 
of  the  stallion,  he  walked  down  the  road, 
away  from  the  hill,  the  house,  the  lake.  He 
would  not  look  back,  for  the  house  on  the 
hill  seemed  to  him  a  tomb,  the  monument 
of  the  four  dead  men  who  had  made  this 
little  kingdom.  0 

By  the  time  he  reached  the  gate  the  Gar- 
den of  Eden  was  awash  with  the  shadows 
of  the  evening,  but  the  higher  mountain- 
tops  before  him  were  still  rosy  with  the 
sunset.  He  paused  at  the  gate  and  looked 
out  on  them,  and  when  he  turned  to  Glani 
again,  he  saw  a  figure  crouched  against  the 
base  of  the  rock  wall.  It  was  Ruth,  weep- 
ing, her  head  fallen  into  her  hands  with 
weariness.  Above  her  stood  Glani,  his  head 
turned  to  the  master  in  almost  human  in- 
quiry. The  deep  cry  of  David  wakened 
her.  The  gentle  hands  of  David  raised  her 
to  her  feet. 

"  You  have  not  come  to  drive  me  away 
again?" 

"  To  drive  you  from  the  Garden?  Look 
back.  It  is  black.  It  is  full  of  death,  and 
the  world  and  our  life  is  before  us.  I  have 
been  a  king  in  the  Garden.  It  is  better 
to  be  a  man  among  men.  All  the  Garden 
was  mine.  Now  my  hands  are  empty.  I 
bring  you  nothing,  Ruth.  Is  it  enough? 
Ah,  my  dear,  you  are  weeping! " 

"  With  happiness.  My  heart  is  breaking 
with  happiness,  David." 

He  tipped  up  her  face  and  held  it  be- 
tween his  hands.  Whatever  he  saw  in  the 
darkness  that  was  gathering  it  was  enough 
to  make  him  sigh.  Then  he  raised  her  to 
the  back  of  Glani,  and  the  stallion,  which 
had  never  borne  a  weight  except  that  of 
David,  stood  like  a  stone.  So  David  went 
up  the  valley  holding  the  hand  of  Ruth 
and  looking  up  to  her  with  laughter  in  his 
eyes,  and  she,  with  one  hand  pressed  against 
her  breast,  laughed  back  to  him,  and  the 
great  stallion  went  with  his  head  turned  to 
watch  them. 

"  How  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  God ! " 
said  David.  "  Through  a  thief  he  has  taught 
me  wisdom;  through  a  horse  he  has  taught 
me  faith;  and  you,  oh,  my  love,  are  the 
key  with  which  he  has  unlocked  my  heart! " 

And  they  began  to  climb  the  mountain, 
end.) 


that  told  them  both  of  the  ship's  doom.  It 
behooved  him  to  take  it.  In  his  heart  of 
hearts  he  did  not  question  the  skipper's  per- 
fect right  to  call  him  all  the  names  that  did 


jM^-^r2^  Georde  M.  A.  Cain 

ff  -3 


CAPTAIN    WAIN'S    bloodshot    eyes     did  not  mean  to  punish  the  mate.    He  had 
gave  one  glance  at  the  thick  haze  to  s  to  do  something.    So  he  swore, 
eastward  and  another  at  the  dimly        And  he  inwardly  approved  of  the  way 
seen   palm   tops   of   Wa'yau   Island.     He     Crowther  took  it,  with  eyes  not  faltering, 
turned  then  on  Mr.   Crowther,  the  mate,     yet  not  defiant,  with  an  occasional  nod  that 
with  a  bombardment  of   seamanlike  pro-     somehow  accepted  punishment  and  awaited 
fanity  that  blasted  like  a  typhoon.  more  as  voluntary  penance  for  acknowl- 

And  Mr.  Crowther  took  it  straight,  rising     edged  guilt. 

in  its  tone  and  its  fierceness,  like  the  wind        Then  Crowther's  eye  wavered  an  instant 

to  the  right,  toward  the  head  of  the  stair- 
way from  the  deck,  behind  the  skipper's 
shoulder.  And — 

"  They  were  your  orders,  sir — sou'west 
not  belong  to  him.  In  fact,  he  was  inward-  by  south  till  you  came  up.  I  had  'em  from 
ly  glad  to  have  the  "  old  man  "  take  it  out  you  myself.  I  gave  'em  to  Mr.  Hupper,  as 
in  swearing.  Captain  Wain's  justice  was  you  said." 

so  tempered  with  mercy  that,  if  he  so  far  The  flimsiness  of  the  excuse  rightly  raised 
forgot  himself  as  to  curse  a  subordinate,  he  Captain  Wain's  fury.  He  had  said  he 
repented  eventually  and  refrained  from  in-  would  be  back  on  the  bridge  within  an 
fiicting  other  penalties.  And  Crowther  hour  of  the  beginning  of  the  afternoon 
knew  he  deserved  other  penalties.  watch.  They  had  let  him  sleep;  there  was 

In  his  own  way  Captain  Wain  was  al-  no  reason  why  he  shouldn't  have  slept, 
ready  figuring  the  matteV  out  as  Crowtiher  Crowther  had  his  own  master's  license,  and 
'did.  The  windward  coast  of  Wa'yau  should  have  known  enough  to  shift  the 
Island  is  as  mean  a  spot  in  a  blow -as  the  course. 

Pacific  Ocean  owns.  They  were  facing  The  actual  facts  Wain  could  guess  as 
death.  It  was  no  time  for  swearing.  well  as  Crowther  knew  them.  Crowther 

Morally,  Captain  Wain  would  have  felt    had  been  enjoying  the  afternoon  watch  so 
more  justified  in  shooting  Crowther.     But     well  he  had  not  wished  to  give  it  up,  so 
the  law  would  not  let  him  do  that;   and     well  that  he  had  forgotten  or  neglected  to 
something    else   was   hindering   him   from     niake  his  own  shift  in  the  course, 
doing  the  things  the  law  would  allow.    He        The  name  of  the  cause  of  the  joy  sprang 

938 


I 
I 
» 

I 


I 
d 

i 


\ 

) 

) 


. 


*THESE  are  the  ties 
•*•  for  boys,  for  young 
men  and  for  men  of 
later  years— the  ties  to 
make  you  look  jour 
neatest  for  a  'very 
modest  neckvjear  cost. 


Those  Whose  Ties 

Must  Give  Gootf  Wear 

—and  yet  look  well  over  the  entire  period, 
we  know  of  no  better  investment  than 
Cheney  Tubulars. 

— they're  neat 

— they  tie  easily 

— they  have  no  lining  to  become  displaced 

— they  never  lose  their  shape 

— they  look  like  new  after  pressing. 

Made    by   CHENEY   BROTHERS,  NEW   YORK 
Makers  of  Cheney  Silh 


\ 


Insist  that  Your  Dealer  SAow  Them  lo  You       <, 

~*c~^"a^^     ~~*era* 


tf)fe  offer  too  goob  to  be  true? 

Is  it  possible  that  we  are  offering  a  value  too  great  to  be  credible  ? 
Do  people  shy  at  the  thought  of  getting  too  much  for  their  money  P 


WE  recently  mailed  several  thousand  cir- 
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cism. All  we  can  say  is:  send  for  these  30  vol- 
umes; if  you  are  not  satisfied,  return  them  at 
any  time  within  a  month  and  you  will  not  be 
out  one  periny. 

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No  description, 
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Each  of  these  volumes  is 
complete.  The  paper  is  a 
high-grade  white  wove  an- 
tique; the  type  is  clear  and 
easy  to  read;  the  binding 

not  leather  but  a  beauti- 


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Four  volumes 
of  Kipling. 


If  you  will  order  at  once  instead  of  waiting 

To  those  of  as  who  have  been  forced  to  lead  drab,  work- 
aday lives,  Kipling  opens  up  a  new  world— the  vivid, 
colorful  world  of  the  East.  These  four  volumes  include 
bis  best  work.  Among  them  are  the  following:  The 
Vampire  and  Other  Verses  ;  The  Man  Who  Was  ;  The 
Phantom  Rickshaw  ;  A  Conference  of  the  Cowers  ;  The 
Recrudescence  of  Imray  ;  At  the  End  of  the  Passage  ; 
The  Mutiny  of  the  Mavericks:  My  Own  True  Ghost  Story. 


no  illustration,  can  do  justice 
They  are  an  unprecedented 
value  at  this  price.  You 
must  see  them,  and  we  are 
anxious  to  have  you  do  so 
— not  at  your  risk,  but  at 
ours.  We  will  send  you  the 
entire  set  on  trial — with  the 
4  volumes  of  Kipling  free. 

When  the  package  arrives, 
pay  the  postman  $2.98  plus 
the  postage.  Then  examine 
the  books  and  the  set  of  Kip- 
ling. Your  money  •will  be 
returned  at  any  time  within 
thirty  days,  for  any  reason  or 
for  NO  reason,  If  you  request 
it.  As  to  \>ur  responsibility, 
we  r  >f«r  you  to  the  Industrial 
Bank  of  New  York  or  to  any 
magazine  or  newspaper  In  the 
United  States. 

LITTLE  LEATHER  LIBRARY 
CORP'N,  Dept.  6511,  354 
Fourth  Avenue,  New  York. 


Little 
Leather 
Library 
Corporation 

Dept.  6511 

354  Fourth  Ave. 
New  York  City 

Please  send  me  on  ap- 
proval the  SO  volumes  of  the 
De  Luxe  edition  of  the  Little 
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postman  12.98  plus  the  postage  upon  deliv- 
ery.     It  is  understood,  however,  that  this  Is 
not  to  be  considered  a  purchase.    If  the  books  do 
not  in  every  way  come   up  to  expectations.   Ire- 
serve  the  right  to  return  them  any  time  within  thirty 
days,  and  you  agree  to  return  my  money.     It  Is  under- 
stood that  $2.98  plus  the  postage  Is  positively   the  only 
payment  to  be  made  on  this  set. 

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The  Roycrofters  have  made  a  special  set  of  Hand  Hammered  Copper  Book 
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